Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Lancaster News LEDGER (852 REVIEW J878 ENTERPRISE 1891 VOL. I. NO. 50. SEMI-WEEKLY. LANCASTER. S. C? MARCH 28. 1906. PRICE?FIVE CENTS PER COPY. William Colambus Cauthen. ] l The Life Story of a Good and s Gifted Man?He was a t Model Lancaster County 1 Public Official and a W riter - A ? ~ P I \ji iiuic-'-na a vuiiuiuuiui ( to a Popular Southern Pub- t lication was Known by the * Nom de Plume of "Will * , Colon." c ^ - From the Sunny South. Mention wus made several months ago, in the Household columns, of the death of one whom we knew as Will Colon, one of the most gifted contribut ors to our department, and a young man of noble and lofty character. It was my wish at lift t.imA tn nav him snmo nmnll tribute; to lay,as it were,a flower ( upon his bier. But, being unable to use my pen, 1 was compelled to leave for a while the wor<t unspoken, the flower untendered William dolumbus C*utheu was born February 12, 1870, and was, therefore, at the time of l\js death still a young man, only in his thirty-sixth year. When a boy ot twelve he was thrown from a wagon, and made hope ' lessly a cripple. For years afterwards, he was confined to his bed, during which time he eduL.ioS ? if u.. i 1 ' jvaicn u 11 line-1 i uy IlillU BHIU.V, BUd by reading the bei-t literature. Though shut in from the activ? duties and pleasures of lite, in no sense of the word, was lie 1 narrow. IJe was broad both in intellect and sympathies, and in ? i every way he kept well abreast ** of the limes in which he lived. 11 is mind was creative as well ' as receptive, and not for long could he be satisfied with reading the thoughts of others, he ' must also produce?must give ' expression to the thoughts thai ^ crowded upon him as he lay on his couch of pain. Not only did ' he have decided opinions, but lie had also the courage of his ' convictions, lie would sneak 1 1 j out boldly on whatever subject appealed to him, whet her politic- 1 al or otherwise. For his state newspapers and tor other period^ icals he wrote under the pseud- ' onymn ot "Junius," while for 1 The Sunny Smith lie clio-<o "Will Colon" as his noni de plume?a ( name many came to know and love. 'Hie feeling and spirit he ' put into his papers soon won to 1 him the admiration and Iriend- 1 ship ol numbers of his readers. It He had read the best, had ' thought much, atul his disser ( tat ions on books and life weic ' not only entertaining; they were ' ? instructive and uplifting. ' After some years lie was able f to be out of bed and to no about 1 in a wheel chair. While still a sulferer, and tar from strong, he 1 could now enjoy intercourse with 1 his lellov men, and he soon won ' deserved popularity, hein^ uu ' tailingly kind and courteous to ' ^ all. in 1898 he ran for oounty ft " reasurer, and was elected bv h arge majority, his two oppo | lents having sought to use his ifiliction against him, claiming hat if elected he would phys caly be unable to attend to the luties of his office. When he left his country home o take up his work in the town, here was an accident, as he was jeing lifted from the train in his thair, and he fell, spraining his inkle, and being otherwise injured. To some this would have seem>d an ill omen at the beginning >f a career, but he, undaunted, was soon at his desk, where le put himself into his work with so much earnertness and ability as to win from the comp troller general of South Carolina the praise that, in his judgment. Mr. Cautlieu was the best county treasurer in the state; this eulogy being expressed while the young treasurer was still living and working, and could be encouraged by the^deserved compliments. One, reading between the lines, remembering tbat Will Oauthen was self educated, and was physically weak, will realize how heroic be must have been to master and achieve so much in the face of the most adverse ircumsi auces. lie was still worthily filling this office, after ? . ) v" having held it for seven years, when he was stricken down by Fatal illness. Feeling that he 3culd not live, his last thought was for his widowed mother, and he tried to arrange matters 30 that her interests would te looked after in her old aue. It was as a writer that Will Uohotg was known to Sunns South readers, and so I will lwell as briefly as I can upon him in this capacity. Tiue, lie wrote little for us alter taking up tlie duties o! his oflice, being jompelled to give to these all die strength he could command. For this reat-on lie is unknown t<? jur la'er readers. Quoting a few paragraphs may give these some idea of I he quality of his thought iiul expression while his old friends, reading them again, almost (eel that a loved and long >ilent voice is speaking :<> them. "Jonquils," he once said, "arc unong the sweetest (lowers that row; when 1 smell one 1 always want to write poetry, only 1 lon't know how.'' Hut he really was a poet, hough lie never tried to put his houghts into verse, llo loved >? auLv. and in loom t i i n 1 ! .?> juane lie made o'hers I? oI the xauty thail ho saw, to do which me must be a p >ct. Tims in a Innny South leff?r ho l?<M us; 'The other day I was wishing or a hit ol sunshine and the son?; of a bird', and today they ire here. The sun is shining >eautilully, and wren is sing ng in tli? hedge. 11 is merry 'twit villow, twit willow,' rings out )right and clear, as if his little leart wore ready to burst with sure joy t'?r the hraath ot the Concluded on i'age Eight. J Shocking Tragedy. A Young Man Kills Another at a Party in Lee County ?An Insult to a Young Lady Said to Have been Cause of Trouble. Special to The Stale. Bishopville, March 24.?Last night at the home of Mr. W. F. Outlaw of the Henriott section, Lee county, Mr. G rover Mat his shot and instantly killed Mr. J. B. Gajlord, both young men ol that section. From information received it seems that there was a party at the house ol Mr. Outlaw. Mr. J. B. Gaylord escorted Miss Alma Coughman to the party. While the pleasures of the evening were in progress and evervhodv - - J * waa apparently happy, Mr. Groyer Mathia was taking a prome nade with Miss Coughman, when out of doors Mathia attempted to take liberties with the youug lady. She resisted this attempt and quietly rebuked him. He persisted and again annoyed her. She then left him and went hark into ll>e houee crying. Mr. Gaylord, her escort, and to whom it is said she was engaged to be married, begged the young lady to tell him the cause of her trouble. At lirt-t ?-he declined to tell him, but finally informed her sweetheart that Matins had persistently tried to take liberties with her. At an opportune time Gaylord took Mathis >nt into the hall lor an interview. A"er ask int; Mathis why he had treated (lie young lady so ungentleman ly, hot words brought on an altercation. There are several reports as to how the fight started and how the shooting was donb, none of which are positive, as this correspondent has not been able to interview any eye witnesses. From reports, it seems that Gay lord had a knife and Mathis had a pistol. When the tight was over (i.iyiortl was mortally won ruled and lived but a few minutes, and Mathis had one or two stabs in his shoulder. Mathis claims to have acted in sell-defense. The reports are conflicting on this point, however, some claiming that there was no necessity or excuse for the killing, these opinions being lased on what they have gathered from the report. ui i i kjui i rv i us /\gea Father. Yablest a, Ga., March ? News was roc 'ivc 1 here to-day of tho death ot Jolm Brant, 81 years old, al ins lion o at Nashville, Berrien county, as the result of injuries ii (lifted by his son, Bob Brant, aired 37 years. The report says that the younger man, under the influence of liquor, on Saturday night, at tacked and abused bis father, and lott him foi dead. Bob Brant defied arrest, but finally was overpowered and lodged in jail, with the th irge of aiurTr g iinst !>. m. Killed by Lightning. The Fate of a Mormon Preacher?Meets Death in his Pulpit Carson, Iowa, March 25.? Special lo News and Courier:? While in the midst of his sermon this morning, the Rev. John B. Leniz, a Mormon preacher, was struck dead by lightning and fell from his pulpit dead. Just before the bolt struck him he said : "An unseen power is reaching out to draw me in." Mr. Lentz had preached a sensational sermon on "Character Building." While the services were in progress the first thunder storm of the season came up and the minister started to dismiss tliA pnnirranroti/\?\ ^Ii?.v6?wuu ucrno III ti I'H111 (ell. He was entreated to continue, however, and did fo. He was quoting the words of a young man, who, speaking of passing a saloon, had said "An unseen power is reaching out to draw men in," when there was a crash and a blinding flash. A ball of fire fell from the ceiling immediately above pulpit and struck the minister, whn fell forward Irom the platform to the iloor. He died instantly. No eletric shock was felt by the congregation, and an examination of the church failed to show any damage whatever. The Creighton Case. j More About the Investigation, of which Notice was Made in Saturday's News. Spartanburg cor. Charlotte Observer: There is much interest in Spartanburg in the investiga tien into the charges *preforred against Iiev. C. W. Creighton. which is proceeding at Greenwood by a special committee appointed by the last conference, which was held here. At that tune the character of Iiev. Mr (JrAialltnn W!iO arro^fn/1 .. . v,.n.. vv " .? I X OVV VI U I I ?l count ol charges he ma?ie in his paper, The Christian Appeal, against certain presiding ehlors. ; It was expected that, during the conference, the whole affair I would be investigated, but ibis | was not done and a committee was appointed instead. I bis coin mittee is now a* work at Green j wood, the home nt Rev. Mr. | (height on, hein_ presided over I by K> v. W. B. Duncan, presiding elder 1 In re considerable ' feeling among ti e prominent ! Me'hodists ol the State, it is said, and a rep< rt has it that al I re >d\ a small fisticult has occurred on account of the inquiry, j Hnth principals, it is said, are I well known cil zens of Grcne I wood, who afterward* "madeI up." j Maj. A. II. Norton, one of Cheraw's ol l? st and most promino'i! c:tizmi.-, d'-J Friday. ! Difficulty in Court Lively Times in Magistrate's; Court at Vanwyck Saturday. An exciting incident occurred in Magistrate Griffin's court in Vanwyck laHt Saturday. Duriug the progress of the trial of * couple of negroes for trespass om of the defendants, Tom Ross, Mr. M. M. Tillman, wh<? wasenrv ducting the examination of witnesses for the prosecution, to shct his mouth ; whereupon Mr. Tillman picked up a stick and struck the negro. Ross then attacked Mr. Tillman with a knife, cutting him on the hand and wrist ao4! slashing his coat in several place-r Parties present interfered ate* stopped the trouble. The magistrate fined Mr. Tii*man [$5. and Ross $4. He als* fined a negro $3. for using violent , language during tho fucs There were about 200 negroer i present and but a bandlul c*f i white men ami for a while things i looked squally. Burned Jo Death. [ Sylvia Cunningham, an Aged Colored Womttn Fnnrui in Fireplace with Head and" Arm Burned Off. Sylvia Cunningham, an tiVi. colored woman, met with a horrible deaih a day or two ago, al tho home of her son, Anderson Cunningham, in Cedar Creek township. She occupied a room 'to hereelf, and other members of the family detecting a pectiUacr odor coming frotn her apart mom* made an investigation. It vraa found that the old woman h&i fallen into the fire ami her bod* vv:is being consumed by tb* flames. When discovered h** head and one arm had been burned off. A Texas Merchant Kills Twit. Men. Shreveport, La.. March 26.? A special to The Times from Jefferson, Texas., says : .1. It. Bennett ;wged 65 years., was shot and instantly I illed and Ins son, Eugene, fatally wounded I y Jt (f Saunders, a merchant,, on 'tie depot plath nil here thin, utternonii. A pit vious disagree, mtu', it is saw!, was revival : when the no n n.el. The > o uicer Bennett was shot fir-t and while his I??tilt r stepped over to its-;ss 'him he was killed, four bull'*** Ientering his body The parties 'are wed-to do and reside at Nw> wo'al, near Jefferson, Tex. The House committee has de.. icided to recommend an appropntion of $1,480,000 for a nation*! exlubit at the-J a tins town Ex position.