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THE WEEKLY HI DHM TIMERS |)4tjol$d Jo ^jritullnrij, HorJitutiurq, gom<(8<tt (Bconomj, ?)olift 3iJijraturf, folilita, and the Current Jlotoa of the gag. VOL. XVII.?New Series. UNION C. H., SOUTH CAROLINA, SEPTEMBER 24, 1886. NUMBER 38. ' KXCOLLKOTIOH8 " or TUB McKissick Rangers. IIT A MBMBBB. BO. 4. When we get to Virginia I shall ask the in. dalgenoe of your readers to pay my respects to the Conscript law." There we began to see and feel its practical working. On the coast we had a great deal of fun out of it. Frank Mllwood and his oousin Shelt Fowler furnished ' fun for the oommand. Jim MoCullouoh took no small part in it, too. Those and many other matters connected with it, 1 will try and ' bring in at the proper time and pUof. I . promised - tho readers, thongh, that I would take them back on Bear's Island. This is not an Island, in its proper sense. It is a peninsula, lying between 1'on Pon and A nltnnrtA ? ~0 ?111 - ..._.rv? iniio, IUU nmcrs VI waicn Aro COD* nected by a canal. This canal had been used by (he planters to transport their produots to market. Roads were, in many plooes, thrown up and constituted embankments to protect the rioe farms. In some places a horse walking on it would shake the ground for several feet around. As astrogetio point it had no military significance whatever. The roads from Jacksonborough to the point at the head of St. Helena sound was, for about four miles, under cover of our guns at Willtown battery, on the opposite side of Ton Ton river. This river below Willtown was obstructed so as to render the passage of vessels impossible. With theso advantages in our favor the Confederate authorities discontinued the picket guard on Bear's island, and in April, G'2, they were drawn in. Previously our headquarters were on tho opposite side of the river, a little below Willtown. About half way between pioket headquarters and the point was the "Matthew's place," at which wo had kept a picket guard since our first occupation of the Island. This was our first picket headquarters. Between the Matthews place and Mosquito creek we had torn up all the bridges. The same was done on the road leading to the point of Bear's Island. Thus our position was comparatively secure from any advance the enemy might attempt to mako. The section of country around the Matthews place might be compared to the desert of Sahara, only it was mud and water instead of sand. O nan oasis stood the Matthews house and outbuildings. On all sides as far as the eye could reach was a vast plain. The Matthews house wus a long building with a piaiza on one side and across one end. A dense thicket of shrubbery surrounded the house on three aides. In front of the house, and in the direction of the enemy, stood our pickets. Tho post was about 200 yards from the house at a bridge that crossed the cennl, on the opposite side of which the roads forked?one leading toward the point and the other towards mosquito creek. The houso was high enough from the ground for a horse to stand under it. At the time we are going to speak of, tiie bridge across the canal had been torn up, and our picket guards were standing in the piazza. One night, about the first of March, '02, while on guard with Jim MeCulloch, Frank Millwood and John Fancelt, at this place, we were thrown into oonsiderablo excitement. John Faucet! and Frank Millwood were standing in the piazza st the end of the house. Jim McCullouoh and myself were in the other end of the house asleep. It was just before daybreak. The crescent moon was rising above the eastern horizon, and gave a dim light through the foliage. A pistol fired, and in an instant another shot rang out in the air. I was aroused. I heard Frank say "men to your post." John raised the yell and came running to the door halloeing "fall in Company D, fall in." "Lt. Foss deploy ycur skirmishers and give 'cm h?11." I had bad been with John before, and knew his tactics when he wanted to piny the "bluff." I had this advantaae of Jim. but vou need not ibink ?s??,?? of us wont into ecstasies over our apparent surroundings. I had gathered my coat for my pants and stove my foot into the sleeve up to my knee. We had no time to make a light. My pistols were out in the piasia without oaps on them. 1 gathered my subine and gun, threw open the dcor, and prepared to shoot and eut my way out. All this was the work of a few momenta. We found the assaulting party was in the rear of the house, and between us and our relief. How far John had succeeded in fluffing we bad no menus of knowing, But, whatever was done, must be done soon. It would never do for daylight to oome and reveal our true situation. Our pistols were recapped, and we felt secure against reasonable odds. Our horses were saddled. The only way of escape was by the road our enemies were held, log. A caucus was held, and the situation discussed, hurriedly. The conclusion was, we must "get up and gel." Next was, "who will go forward." Like the invited guests all made excuses. At last "8tonewall Jackson" was turned into I be road at the gsllop. 80 irere the others. Each rider with pietol in hand. We had to ride by file. For some of us this Was perhaps to be the last ride. As we drew bear the dark avenue, walled on each side with dense thickets, "Stonewall" raised his head and through dilated nostrils announced the presence of our enemy. Spurs pressed him forward, and soon we had run 1 he gauntlet and were shooting like so many arrows up tho side of the canal. "Prinoe" dashed past like a parrott shell. My horse stumbled and fell and 1 lost my C*p. llefore my horse recovered they -were ell past me end 1 got down to hunt my cap. One fellow says "oome on, they can kill 'Us yet." 1 could not find the cap, so I mounted and rode on barehoaded with Ihe others towards our relief. John Faucett reported to picket headquarters. The rest of us stopped. I tied my handkerchief around my head. Soon Lieut. Mabry Thomas. had the whole reserve at the plaee. Lock art Mitchell rode up to me and 4 said "lielloa Sallie Worthy, are you here." We went back to our post. The Lieut, and relief went with us. It was now daylight. We found old slices, hats, bonnets, shawls, walking sticks, &c., strcwu along the road whioh revealed the character of our foo, who had taken to the marsh when they heard us coming behind them. Wo found out from an old darkey living near our picket post that a large body of the slaves from the up county, as it were, had that night attempted to get to the yankees, but ooming upon our pickets they wore stopped; Borne of them, however, got past and were taken on Edisto Island that evening. Some we found, and others returned to their homes. I found my cap in the edge of tho water, in the canal, just ready to be taken off by tho rising tide. On another occasion before this, I was on picket at the sn&ic place. Dill Savage and Qilliara Thomas were on post with me. We were standing nt the bridge which I have told you was about 200 yards from the Mathews house. Tom Fowler, (long hungry) with the rest of the relief was in the house asleep. It was as dark a night as I ever saw, I think. In rear of the house, in a little hut, lived an old negro who had a littlb dog. Soon after we went on past the dog began to bark, and kept it up for at least one hour. Our horses were restless. The ducks and frogs kept such a quacking aud croaking, which, together with the barking of the dog mado tho night hideous. The bridge across the canal had not been torn up. The night was so dark we could not see ten steps from us. Wo brought a horse on post. Dill Savage watched the horse and Gilliam and I watched the road in front. From the action of the horse we found that the trouble was in the dircctiou of tho house. I told Dill and Gilliam to mind tho post, and I would go back and see what was the matter, or put the reserve on their guard. When I passed around the houso 1 found a drove of "marsh ponies" picking about nmong the rose bushes. A little Jack bocau to lim? unit ihi? the men in the house. As I returned to my post, passing the end of the pialis, i saw Tom Fowler standing with his coat, shoes and hat all off. I spoke to him. He was like Zvchariah ?speechless. I spoke again and ho knew me. lie said "who was that blowing that horn." I told him "it was that cavalry in the roar of the house sounding a charge." Bear's Island could beat the world for ducks, bees, "goobers" and sweet potatoes. It was without doubt tbe richest laud I ever saw. Many kinds of gnnio could be found on it. Deer was plentiful. I don't expect there was another section in the whole rice oounty of the same size that raised an equal quantity of that article. The first night I ever stayed on Bear's Island, Jack Isonand myself were put on guard at a place where 000 bushels of rice had been burued in one pile. We hitched our horses at the base of a straw pile to protect them from the cold wind. The fog on the river was so heavy we could see but a short distance, not half way across the stream. We climbed to the top of tho straw stack, dug out holes, wrapped our blankets around us and buried ourselves in the straw up to our necks. Jack had his face turned one way and tnine was the other. The wind blow a gale all night. In the river the water lashed itself into a foam. A col 1 rain set in soon after we had got ensconced in our comparatively oomfortable positions, which at times turned to sleet. In this position we spent along, cold January night. Next merning when we left, 1 could acaroely ride, I was so benumbed, and Jack was in tho same fix. This night I contracted the "pleuritic affection," of whioh I have heretofore spoken. It was not customary for one relief to stand nil night, but we had agreed to do so, in order to get relieved next day and night. It was no fault of Lieut. Thomas', but our own voluntary actt After we returned to our headquarters next morning, we found our men had procured a lot of honey. The bees wore flying about in the cold rain as though it was June. Charley Fowler had captured the gums and honey. We had nothing to eat with it but "hard taok," and it was a poor go. As I have already intimated our men found out that they could dispense with picket duty on this Island, and we were withdrawn. Wo made one raid evon then a short time before we went to Virginia, of which 1 will tell your readers after a while. Col. Stevens liked for his soldieis to attend church. He was truly a good man. Of course wo could get permission from our company officers to go to church, or anywhere else we wanted; but when we had to pass through several lines of troops it was necessary to get permission from Regimental headquarters at least, or go in company with some commissioned officers ; so several of us, iuoluding Joe Leech, got permission to go to Willtown to hear an Episoopal minister preach. Col. Stevens, I think, belonged to that denomination. The ohurch building showed the wealth and refinement of the congregation that had been acouetomcd to worship there. With all the politeness for which that denomination arc proverbial, we wero invited to seats. We felt ourselves et home. As the minister stepped into the pulpit the organ announoed "Sweet Hour of Prayer." The musio was superb. The organist was mistress of her situation. She was eertainly an embodiment of all tha refinement, grace and beauty of whieh Sooth Carolina boasted in better days. The minister was none the lesa ao. Ilia text was, Eocl. XI ohapter and Uth verse?"Kejoloo, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart ofaeer thou in the days of thy youth, and walk In the ways of thine heart, and in the aight of thine eyes, bat know, then, that for all these things Qod will bring thee into judgment." Before the minister had got half way through reading his text, the oase of the young soldier under Cromwell presented itself to my mind whioh 1 shall relate : It was a special order pf that otfioer that every soldier under his command should always have a Bible in bis pocket, Agreeat>ly to this requisition a licentious young soldier carried a copy of the Scriptures which, during an action, was penetrated by a ball from the enemy. After the army had retired from the field this profligate youth had the curiosity to oxamino how far the ball had penetrated his Bible, and while he was turning over one leaf after another the passago which our Minister had chosen as his text arrested the young soldier's attention. It proved the happy instrument of enlightening bis understanding, of alarming his conscionce, of changing his heart, and finally saved his soul. That this same passage, undor similar oircumstances, should present itself to me, was a coincident impressed upon my mind that will last as long as life. In this connection I will further say it is to be lamented that men of the sword are more frequently distinguished for their profligacy than their piety ; they are more in the habit of imprccatiog curses on themselves and others than importuning for blessings. The nature of the soldier's occupation tends to inspire him with a degree of hardihood ; with a defiance of danger that often degenerates into a forgelfulness, and even defiance of his Ood. His unsettled situation in life, his want of the regular ordinances of grace, his exposure to ensnaring company and various other considerations have a natural tendency to divert his attention from things divine and eternal. I am satisfied I did not hear such a sermon preached during my stay in the army as I heard that day. I think it was the last sermon preached in that house during our stay in that section. It was expected every day that a battle would take place there. The few citizens remaining up to that time moved off, and the doors of the church were closed. While waiting that day for tho congregation to assemble, and service to begin, wo took a stroll down by the battery, llcro we found Pete Mosolcy, who had killod Jiui Leech, (Joe's brother,) and who, by some law or finding of the jury, or some other means, was to serve a term in the army. 1 never saw him after that. Uses. A Talk Witu Dr. Vedder.?Tho Rov. Dr. Vedder and wifo have returned to the oity and are staying at the Mansion Houso on Broad street. Dr. Vedder, in conversation with a Reporter for tho News and Courier, said that he was in Schenectady, N. Y., on tho fatoful Tuesday. lie had no intimation of the oartbquako until the following morning, when tho morning papers gavo a whole page to the terrible event, with the appalling declaration that no Bingle word cbuld bo received fro^T Charleston. 'Tho New York Sun contnined tho suggestion of a lidul wave,' said Dr. Voider, 'which had swept tho doar old city and its inhabitants out of existence. Fearful as must have been the reality of what was suffered here, second only to it was tho uncertainty and su9penso endured by me and mine for more than twenty-four hours, until telegraphic communication was reopened. Then it was impossible to get private intelligence. Dispatches remained unanswered, and seemingly unnoticed. There was a reason for this, well known now, but then inexplicable. Tho -torture of all those hours need cot be dwelt dpon. When the first tidings of the awful catastrophe came, the whole heart of the people of tho North seemod to throb with a single impulse of sympathy for Charleston. I havo nover seen?scarcely ever coneeived?so spontaneons, universal aud abounding an emotion thrilling every class of people. Everything was forgotten but tho historic and beautiful oity and its woes. Having an appointmeut to proach in the ohurch of my childhood, I war requested to speak upon the all-eugrossing ovent, and did so io,tbe few broken words at uiy command, and I am sure-no speaker ever addressed an audience moro in sympathy with his theme, and more considerate of bis inability to give voice to his feelings. Assurance of help were given to every degree and in every form nocdcd, and this samo spirit was manifested everywhere and in all ways. All theso things are known here, and I only meution them because you ask. It is an alleviation, cvou of so fearful a calamity as that which has befallen Charleston, that the tendero&t thoughts of tho whole land hfkVA Kaon Inn. O - - - " ?WW WWVM *VV ingly drawn oat towards her, and the hand of help ungrudgingly and gladly extended. I If any heart here desponds for the doar city, it may find courago in the interest of all the country in its welfare. Let it be high treason to the glorious traditions of Charleston for any one to despair of her future.' Marrying Drinking Msn.-~Marrying men to reform them has never been a successful enterprise on the part of women. Girls are worth too muoh unmarried to sacrifice themselves to beat senso into the head of say man on God's footstool. Such a man doea not wean ao eaailj as a calf. Ha will go bone only to aobar tip, and then not till the other places are eloeed. A girl will marry aaob a man, hoping that on tho next year he will be better ; but the next year he will be worse. There ere aober bpja enough for all the girla ; and there is no need marrying a druuknrd.?fori York \ Sun. 7ABM WORK TOR SEPTEMBER. Wo have discussed, in former numbers, preparation for all crops. The timo has come for planting thtui. September is the natural and best seeding time for grasses, oloTor, lucerufc, oats rye and barley. We say natural sqpding time, becauso tho seeds of the ariou I plants enumerated are matured in the summer when it is hot and dry, and eveni*the beads are shattered and the seed aoattered on tho ground, the latter do not find nrnrvr nnnditinna fn. : ?1 ? ? - ?? ? r- wv?v?...vuo tui ^luiiuai* ing till the later rains set in and cool nights and htityr dews prevail. The earlier in the month ^^g&Mdi&ions are present the bet' ter it it, oeoause ample timo is furnished the young plants to establish themselves well and firmly in the soil beforo the freezes of winter. In a wild or uncultivated state these plants begin tbeir growth at timo indicated ; this is naturo's appointment, therefore, and is best suited to tho wants of tho plants. In northern latitudes, whero hardest freezes provail, snow protects tho young plants daring winter; in tho South longer and slrouger Autumn growth must tako tho place of tho snow covering. As winter grasses abound moro in north- ' cm than in southern latitudes, the concla sion seemed natural that the heat of South- ' ern climates was prejudicial lo these plants; and one step further in tho sauio direction scemod reasonable, to wit, that they needed shade in tho South. Hence the practice of seeding grass and clover with small grains to git the benefit of their shade. ' Doubtless soano shade is desirable during periods of intense heat aud drought, but can it be procured in the manner spoken 1 of, without incurring other injury grcator than tho good received when grass is sown with grain 1 Our observation in that more is lost than gained. In tho first place tho projecting shade is taken away jus', when most needed; grain is harvested in June and July when the greatest beat and severest droughts prevail. Plants accustomed to partial shade are then suddenly exposed to intensest heat. But this is not all. In tho case of grasses proper, the grain crops tnaks domand upon the soil for exactly the | same i^yd .tho grasses need. Being larger and ijflore vigorously tho stjrt, the former over-niasfcr tho grass at the beginning and get lion's share of the food. At harvest, therefore, the grass is suddeuly exposed to the fiercest rays of the sun when it is comparatively starved aud weak from the unequal struggle, On exceedingly rich soils where thero is ample food for both, this objection does not hold so strongly, but such soils arc not generally found. This difficulty may in part be obviated by top-dressiug in the Spring. But where ( land is so abundant, amply enough for every 1 crop a farmer could wish to cultivato, as a rule, it is better to sow the grasses by them- 1 selves and not in conjunction with grain crops. This gives them an opportunity of getting 6trong during the oarly stagos of growth, whon they nre naturally weak, and puts them on vantage ground whon tho strugglo with heat and drought begins. Theso remarks apply with greater force to tho anuual winter grasses and 1 clovers which complete thoir growth in early spring. These of necessity riTust be sown by themselves or with somo crop which follows after thorn, but does not grow simultaneously with them. Wo cannot urge too frequently upon beginners the importance of heavy seeding, bo sure to sow enough for the plants to occupy all of tho land?leave no place for intruders. Sow euough to allow for defective seed?for adulterated scod, and for tho dying out of weak plants. After one has | taken all the trouble ot thorough preparation and heavy manuring?such as grass requires?it is folly to fail from insufficient seeding. Very light covering of tho seed is of the first importance ; deep covering will cortainly bring failure. But when lightly covered, seeds will not germinate well if the weather is dry, unless they are firmly pressed into the soil. Henco the importance of the roller. It is almot indispen sable io grass culture ; it smooths sod levels the ground for the mower, presses small rocks below tho surface, hastens the germination of seeds, and imparts vigor to tbo young plants. Heavy, impacting rains may do some of the work of the roller, but in thoir absence the surface soil is too loose and too easily dried off for tho little plant to ostablish itself in it. llemember} that at first its roots start at or very near .tho surfaoo. It is not ia tho situation of a plant springing from a seed harried two or i three inohse below ths surface. The oat crop has bees so often winterkilled of late that many are discouraged and disposed to abawdon the practice of fall-aowing. We confess that recent experience has beca very discouraging. Hut in view of tho groat valuo of the crop, when it docs suoceed we era lotb to abandon it. | Wo havo faith in tho possibility of devol oping, by proper selectioa and cultivation a winter oat oapablo of resisting extreuH oold. What is known in Middle Gcorgii as "winter grazing oat" doos certainly re sist cold better than othor variotics. It this locality, the past wiuter, the mercury descended to zero and tho cold was lonj continued, and yot a good deal of this o? survived, and by ila abundant tilleriaj made from one-fourth to one-third of < crop. In most fields of rust-proof oat Bown in autumn scattering stools could als< bo 'found, and that too in positions no specially sheltered. (Tow if, without .*?< lection and from indiscriminate sowings of seed, individual plants spring up with power to withstand intense cold, why, with proper care, could not a hardy varioty be propagated and established from those cold resisting plants ? Wo havo faith that il can bo done, and our faith is based ot facts like those, related by Darwin in hit work on Auimals and Plants under domes ticatioo : "Wheat quickly assumes new habits of life. Tho summer and wintei kinds were classed by Linnaous as distinct species; but M. Monnicr has proved that tho difference between them is only teni porary. Ho sowed winter wheat in spring and out of one buudrcd plants four alone produced ripo seed ; these wcro 6own and resowu, and in three years plants were reared which ripened all their seed. Conversely, nearly all tho plants raised from summer wheat, which was sown iu autumn perished from frost; but a few were saved and produced seed, and in thrco years this summer variety was converted into a winter variety." Our habit has been to sow indiscriminately, as chance or convenience might decide, spring grown oats iu tho fall aud fall grown oats in the spring. Is it anj wonder that wo have no fixed varieties adapted to either season? Some time ago w< urged the careful saving of all rust-prooi oats that survived the past winter. W< hope it has been done and that they wil be Bown this month, and tho same thin; repeated for at least throe years, The present'crop covers all of our cxpe riuncc with the winter grazing oat. It wa mot ready to c^t until the 10th of Jul) though sown oy the 30lh of October las! Possibly iu having L>.-. :i 'binned out by th< cold, and the tilleriug cue- |\> ut thereon may have retarded its ripcuiug. Hut although Juuc was a very wet month and bunches of ryo distributed through these oats wero badly rusted, the oats had no rusl whatever. Wo shall sow it agaiu aud watch results. Neithor barley nor rye were killed by the extreme cold of tho past winter. To some extent, therefore, theso can bo made tc take the place of fall oats?barley on the richer and ryo on the poorer lands. Will these cover the bare cotton fields during the winter andsnvo them from washing aud leach ioz. Simolv harrow in the send?don't hr<*?L up tbo laud and increase the facilities foi for washing. When green, these crops oar bo cut and fed to horses and cows ; whec matured, they cau be harvested, thresher and grouud and make most excellent stool feed, llye straw commands ready sale foi filling in horso collars and other purposes but the stalls and slock yards may well dis pose of it all. Our soils cry aloud for hu mus?let us lake every opportunity to sup ply it. Some one has suggested that oat and ryo might be sown together?if th< oats should be killed tho rye would not ant the land would still be occupied with desirable crop. We sec no objection exoep the unequal ripening of the two crops, bu as rye will remain standing without wast fry some time after it ripens it could wai on tho oats. Upju the whole tho suggos tiou strikes us as a good one, worthy o being tested by trial/ A friend has recently called our atteu tion to the successful culture, in this vicin ity, of a grass variously called "Schrader grass," " Australian oats," Rescue grass etc., Rrornus unioloides or Sehraderi beinj its technical name, llo spoko very higbl. of it as a winter grazing grass, growinj very rapidly iu early spring and pruducinj large quantity of broad, nutritious loaves Though sometimes called ''rescue" aud re n:?. .11- 1 ? .1? ouuiviiuj^ ^moo ^cuoiniijr nuunu uy lUii name, it is said to be much larger and mor luxuriant in its growth and decidedly mor valuable. Our seedsmen hero in form us that there is considerabl demand for the seed in Louisian and Texas, where it is highly es teemed. It is said by some authorities t be perennial ; by othors to be an annua We learn that it was partially killed her by the extraordinary cold of last wintci but usual eold does not hurt it. It woul probably thrive below tho thirty-fourt degree of latitudo. This is the proper month in which to so burr clover and crimson clover. Both < these are annuals; beginning growth i p autumn tb sy mature and die bj the let of i, the following June. Tbey are valuable I plants, especially in localities where ordi? nary rod clover will not thrive. Oar - friends below tho head of navigation in our i rivers could have as fine clover pastures in j the spring, from these two plants, as could I bo seen anywhere. Mako the ground rich, t sow a plenty of seed in September and I cover them lightly; that is tho whole secret, i Towards tho laBt of tho month pea-vincs b and crab-grass will be ready for mowing j and curing. Farmers seem to be pretty t generally of the opinion that pea vines should not be cut until young peas form on thcui ; that the peas aro less apt to drop off i then and the vines more easily cured than i at an early stago. If left too late the stems > become woody and hard, and are worthless as forage. Both oxtremeties then arc to t he avoided- Tt ia it difficult ?. ? - ivta^u IU VUIU i and opinions vary as to tho best method of 3 doing it. If one has abundant house-room, - or the moans of providing cheap, temporary r shelters, it is nnquoRlionably best to put r the vino under cover bb soon as they aro t fairly wilted, hanging them on poles, or i arranging in seine way so as to allow a free circulation of air. A loft with a slatted or * , open floor is an exoellent place to cure thia s or any kiud of forage. In tho abscnco of I the ahovo appliances the vines may be pnt i in small cocks?narrow but high?and if the weather is dry several of these may bo i thrown together into a larger cock on the , third or fourth day. Constant regard i should be had to avoid exposing much surface to su i or dew. Hence high and narrow cocks are recommended. It is difficult to have thcui properly made by ordinary > hands ; this is one of the things a farmer i should personally supervise. ' Crabgrass makes very good hay if cut at i the proper time, which is just as the seeds ) aro forming and beforo they arc ripe. The f seeds drop off readily when mature, and 3 whatever of the substance of tho plant I passes into seeds is thus lost. Cut and j cure, therefore, beforo tho seed will drop off and beforo the stalks bccomo woody. They are too small to be stiff, but when old s they bccomo woody, nevertheless, and loco r> their digcstibjiily, just ?u ovcx-ripo straw 'jdocs.? IF. L. Jones, in Southern Cultivator. L' Destitution in Texas.?Washington, ' Sept. 13.?First Auditor Chenoweth has ^ just returned from a month's visit to Texas* He gives a sad picture of tho destitution ' and suffering there on account of the | drought. lie is astonished that there has been so iittlo said on this subject, lie says it is estimated that in Jack County not 1 twenty bushels of corn and wheat havo oomc up. The drought extends from be' yond Fort Worth up into the Pan Handle. 1 This is a due grazing country and a laigo 1 auioun t of stock is kept there. This year, ! however, it has been impossible to supply the stock will* water. People have been obliged to haul water for household purr poses for twenty and thirty miles. Thero 1 are tew runuing streams and a few artesian 1 wells. A great doal of stock has famished. In large tracts of country the people havo almost nothing to eat. They made no r gardens and have no potatoes or other vege' tables. While Judge Ohcuoweth was in Texas he presided over scvoral relief meetings where peoplo were collecting seed corn, wheat nod money to send to the sufB forcrs. He says tho farmers in the regions * affected by tho drought arc generally of small means, and depend upon their proa ducts from year to year for subsistence, 1 They thus find themselves immediately in want when their crops fail. t Two Girls Weary op Like.?Dundee, Mich., September 13.?Two young ,f and pro-ty girls, named Yctta Vogelsang, of this place, aud Ada Laflington, of Mon roc, attempted suicide to-day by taking chloroform. They wero together on the R streets in the forenoon, apparently happy, but near noon they secured a vial of chlo\ reform and repaired to the outskirts of tho village, where they seated themselves by tho roadside and prepared to die. They wrote letters saying that it was their last j day upon earth; that no one cared for them ; that the peoplo of Dundee had traduoed t them until they wanted to die. They wero o discovered in time to save their lives, c though at first it was thought that Miss Laflington was dead. s Not Her. First Appearance.?Lawa ycr (to a timid yonng woman)?Have yott r- ever appeared as witness in a suit before? n Ynnnnr woman fhlimWinfr^?V.?o? ? o v. o/ - V-? I. of courso. c Lawyer?Please state to the jury jail r, what suit it was. d Young woman (with inoro confidence)? h It was a nun's 'veiling, shirred down the front and trimmed with a lovely blue, with w hat to mateh? >f Judge (rapping violently)?Order in the n oourt1