The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, June 03, 1909, Image 6
MANSION GONE TO DECAY.
Was Once Home of Theodosia Burr.
Now a Mass of Ruins.
"The Oaks," that now desolate
mansion on the Waccamaw river,
near Georgetown, to which Governor
Joseph Alston, in 1801, brought as
his bride the beautiful Theodosia,
daughter of Aaron Burr, is the subject
of an article in the New York
Evening Post.
The old mansion is still standing
but is tenantless, and other plantations
of the neighborhood are also
deserted. "You can't get the people
to come out of the towns to work
'em," the visitor was told. "The
Oaks" long ago went to waste "because
of the difficulty of getting
hands" to till its lands. No Alston
has occupied the house since the war
of 1861-5, and one must go to Charleston
or New York to find the descendants
of the famous couple who
lived there a hundred years ago sur
u.. - 11 .V. ? 1 thot
rouuueu uv mi iuc iuauhco vl iuat
period. One of the members of that
historic family now residing in
Charleston is thus quoted:
"Never was there a couple more
devoted or so much in love with
i\ each other. Mr. Alston, though college
bred, knew little French and
p: Theodosia became his teacher, while
he continued the masculine, almost
legal, training begun by her father.
? . Both loved books and The Oaks con<
tained a fine library. They practiced
music together and attended to the
wants of a large family of slaves.
Outdoor employment and recreations
v were much indulged in. Theodosia
?wMlvify on/1
'V_ was ptlBSIUUclCClJ' 1UUU vi 11U1U5 uuu
f boating. Their favorite ride was
^ across the sands to the ocean, a good
?v; ; three miles, and a brisk gallop up
and down the smooth, hard strand.
There was a pleasant and even bril g;-v
liant society in the neighborhood at
that time. Plantation houses lined
V. j) the bank of the river quite to Georgetown.
Their owners were mostly
& college bred men, and many, with
W: ' their families, had made the grand
|||p tour. Their homes were models of
elegance and ease. In this brilliant
circle Theodosia at once became a
prime favorite. Her personal charms
?:Y" and engaging manners would have
' won her the position even if she had
not been the daughter of the vice
! president. Afternoon teas, riding
parties, picnic excursions to the
beaeh were the principal social recreations.
4*The reading and answering of
letters from friends in the North engaged
a good share of the young
matron's time. Col. Burr wrote frequently
and his epistles, which have
been preserved, were models in their
way, filled with wit, politics, home
gossip, and with tender solicitude for
her welfare. When the days of her
father's adversity came, he had no
stauncher friend than his daughter,
and when the infamous trial for
i treason came on at Richmond, she
flew to his side, and sustained him
by her presence and filial attentions.
Then came Burr's four years of exile
in Europe, during which she remained
here on the rack of anxiety.
.-.{At last a new president, Madison,
-came in, and chiefly through her persuasions
and the influence of her
husband, Burr was permitted to return.
On his arrival in New York
he wrote her to join him there. She
hastened to obey; and,, as her
strength would not allow of the tedious
land journey, she embarked at
Georeetown for New York in the
I Patriot, a small but staunch schooner,
which had often made the
/sails sank beneath the sea line nothing
was ever heard of her.
"A story arose that she was captured
by pirates, but we never believed
it, deeming it more probable
that she foundered in a fierce gale
that swept the coast about the time
she was due to arrive off Hatteras."
Perhaps the above is chiefly notable
because of the remarkable reference
to the "infamous" trial of
Aaron Burr for treason?he who
consnired against his country and aspired
to make himself emperor of
the West! Charleston, like most old
Southern cities, is full of bitter memories,
but they are chiefly concerned
with the tragedies of the war between
the States and of reconstruction.
It is almost with a shock of
'wondering surprise that one learns
of inherited bitter memories among
contemporary Burr-Alstons reaching
all the way back to the days when
Bp President Jefferson caused Aaron
Burr to be tried for treason.
It may be noted in this connection
that when Burr passed through
Georgia as a prisoner, he spent the
night en route near Milledgeville.
The house is now standing, and is
the property of Mrs. Fur man, the
&f- daughter of 'Joseph LeConte, of Coggj.
lnmbia, and the mother of Mrs. J. N.
Talley, of Macon. The place is known
t . as Scottsboro. Old servants still on
the plantation now, assert that
"spirits" haunt the room Burr oca-sK
cnpied.
Suspected of Wife-Murder.
Chicago, May 30.?Mrs. Nora Jane
P Cleminson, 29 years old, was found
dead in bed of chloroform poisoning
H' to-day, and her husband, Dr. Haldane
Cleminson, 27 years old, who
reported the finding of the body by
himself and said that he was suffering
from the effects of chloroform, is
held by the police. According to Dr.
Cleminson, he awoke this mornipg
violently ill. His wife was dead.
Dr. Cleminson insists that he and
?' - . . . x ? - M
fits wire were tne victims or roDoers.
He told the police that money,
spoons and jewels were missing. An
investigation disclosed the jewels
mentioned in Dr. Cleminson's vest.
According to the police, the doors
and windows had not been tampered
with.
A physician examined the body
and said that Mrs. Cleminson had
k:.' been dead several hours before her
husband gave the alarm. A piece of
gauze was found near the dead woman's
head. The gauze is such as is
used by physicians in giving anaesthetics.
According to the report of the hospital,
Dr. Cleminson showed little effects
of chloroform poisoning.
The theory that husband and wife
entered into a suicide pact was advanced,
but the idea is scouted by
relatives of Mrs. Cleminson.
i:
ROBBERY CAUSES SUICIDE.
rrnnri? D UI'XlDUPPV ri'Tfi HIS
UJDV/riU?i x uvi'u 1UM-" v/i. ?
THROAT WITH RAZOR.
Was Suspected of Complicity in Express
Robbery, and His Home
Searched.
A sad tragedy took place in Augusta,
Ga., on Wednesday evening,
when a man hounded down by detectives,
took his own life.
Rendered desperate because suspicion
was rested against him in connection
with the sensational robbery
of the Southern Express Company's
car on the Charleston division of the
Southern Railway recently, says the
Augusta Chronicle, George P. Humphrey,
a baggage master on that
road, slashed his throat with a razor
Wednesday night at 11 o'clock,
at'the corner of Houston and Ellis
streets, and died an hour later at
the City Hospital. Humphrey never
spoke after the cutting.
When the razor cut his head almost
half off, Evander Humphrey,
his brother, was at the corner of
Greene and Houston streets, running
to overtake him, as George
Humphrey's wife had sent him to
overtake her husband in order to
prevent him from taking his life.
Evander Humphrey arrived almost
in time to catch the prostrate form
of his brother as he fell to the
ground.
The brother cried out in a loud
voice, horrified at the sight of George
Humphrey dying on the street at his
feet. D. F. Meredith, who lives at
131 Ellis street, rushed to the corner
and the brother of the dying man
and Meredith carried him to the
store of Mr. W. H. Broadwater, at
the corner of Houston and Ellis
streets, where the hospital ambulance
was telephoned for.
The lightning flashed and rain fell
in torrents while Humphrey was being
carried into the piazza.
Just prior to ending his "life, Humphrey
took a drink of whiskey from
a pint bottle. After laying it down,
he drew his razor, and slashed at his
throat.
Lieutenant Britt, of the police department,
as soon as notified of the
act, sent Station Guard Tom Williams
to the point where the killing
occurred, ordered the ambulance to
get there as Quickly as possible.
Humphrey died at the hospital at
midnight. Coroner W. A. Ramsey
was notified at once and he permitted
the body to be taken to Wilson's
undertaking establishment and he
will make an investigation of the
affair. . j
To a reporter the heart-broken |
widow, between sobs, told why her
husband ended his life:
"He was as innocent as a child,"
said Mrs. Humphrey frantically,
"and although three detectives came
here and searched our house, still
they found nothing that would implicate
my husband in that express
car robbery. He was the best of
husbands and every month he gave
me all he made. He had worried
about being falsely charged so much
that he was driven to frenzy, although
I had no idea that he contemplated
killing himself. He told
me over and over again that he was
innocent.
"To-night we had been sitting
down talking just after he came
from his work, and about 11 o'clock
he was writing something in a book.
Suddenly he got up, and tossing the
book into my lap, put on his rain
coat and left hurriedly, saying he
was going to use a telephone. After
he had gotten out of the door I was
horrified to find these words written
in the book:
" '1 kill myself this night to keep
from going to jail and save my wife
and little children from disgrace.'
"Oh, God! I cried, and called for
George's brother to follow him at
once. He ran out as quickly as possible,
but failed to reach him before
he had cut his throat. I ran to where
my husband lay on the piazza of Mrs.
Broadwater's store and he tried to
kiss me and talk to me, although he
could not speak.
"There was never a more devoted
husband and father than George, and
we had lived so happily together ever
since our marriage three years ago.
We have two children, one a little
girl a year and a half old, and our
other is a baby boy, tnat was born
in March."
Mrs. Humphrey was formerly Miss
Kate Speering, and many of the people
who live in the neighborhood of
the couple say that they were very
much devoted to each other.
Humphrey cut what is commonly
known as the "Adam's apple" in
twain, and also his wind pipe. The
physicians assert that there would
have been no chance to save his life
had he received surgical attention
immediately after he cut himself. 1
Humphrey had been working for '
the Southern Railway for six years,
and has been baggage master on the
Charleston * division for about three
veara. Wednesdav nieht he came in
from his "run" from Branchville on
the passenger train due in Augusta
at 10:30 o'clock and went directly
home. He was baggage master on
the same train the night that the express
car robbery occurred.
Mrs. Humphrey stated that the detectives
had all of the train officials
examined regarding the robbery and
that a negro swote her husband was
in the robbed car when it passed
Broad street, attired in a white cap
and shirt. Mrs. Humphrey says
that her husband always wears a
blue shirt, which kind he wore when
he ended his life.
D. F. Meredith, a fireman, of the
Augusta department, says that not
only was Humphrey's residence
searched by the detectives several
days ago, but also was Thomas L.
Hutto's, the express messenger who
was found locked in a chest when
the robbed car reached the depot.
We are now clubbing with the
Southern Cultivator. This is a
semi-monthly farm paper, one of the
best published, and the regular price
is $1.00 a year. You can get the
Cultivator and The Herald both one
year for $1.50.
WAYS TO MAKE MONEY.
Some Unusual Callings Which Yield
an Income to Workers.
In the whole history of the world
there has never been a country
where it is so easy to make money
as in the United States. That there
are many ways of making a living
besides being a life insurance president.
a nrize fiehter or a hodcarrier
is shown by the following collection
of unusual occupations:
Of the list of unique callings none
is more peculiar than the business of
"Dr. Cockroach," of Louisville. For
a stipulated annual consideration
the "doctor" contracts to keep one s
premises rid of cockroaches. At
regular intervals he comes around
with queer looking tools, and mysterious
powders, by means of which he
persuades the cockroaches to go.
"Bird doctor and specialist" is the
sign on the shingle which hangs in
front of an establishment on Broadway
in New York. The proprietor is
a young woman who takes mamma's
pet canary to board while the family
is away at the seashore or absent
from home at other times. She also
has a hospital for sick birds and
teaches backward songsters their
mission in the world and is able to
make a competence from her work.
An Englishman possessed of a
small annuity and in bad health went
to El Paso, Texas. The expenses of
living were so great in the Southwestern
city that he soon found his
income inadequate. He invested all
the ready money he had in eight gilt
and gaudy popcorn stands, with little
engines to run the poppers. The idea
worked and before long he branched
out to San Antonio. He soon worked
up a baby trust which brought
him an income of $8,000 a year.
A woman in Boston makes a business
of taking inventories of houses
which are rented furnished. She
Al- ? O IrAO AATV>.
comes to tue uuuec auu uiaiicD V.UUJplete
lists in triplicate of every article,
with a description of its condftion.
When the house is given up
she comes again and checks over the
household goods and appraises the
loss or damage. She has been so
successful in this kind of work that
her services are much in deman<^. An
Italian in New York takes over the
rubbish from the garbage collections
of the great Eastern metropolis at a
stated annual price and makes from
$20,000 to $30,000 a year from the
business. He employs hundreds ol
sorters and pickers, who go over the
rubbish to get out old bottles, rags,
rubber, leather and other junk. It is
said that he realizes from $2,000 to
$3,000 a year on old rubber shoes
alone.
Several years ago a shoe buyer for
one of the Chicago department stores
conceived the idea of buying up
slightly damaged or blemished shoes
from the manufacturers and retail'
-* - Uc
ins mt? bttlllV <Xt a oa^i mvu pi iw. iiv
opened np with one clerk in a single
room near the roof of a skyscraping
office building. To get a good pair
of $5 shoes with nothing more than
a little scratch on them for $2 was
such a bargain that customers came
fast. The business increased so rapidly
that the original hah been enlarged
to fifteen rooms, and forty
clerks are employed instead of one.
The capital earned from the original
store has been reinvested until now
the concern owns eight large stores
in other places.
A New Jersey girl, broke down by
teaching and office work, was ordered
by her doctor to get some occupation
which would keep her out of
doors. She followed the physician's
advice by acquiring a boggy farm in
New Jersey, where she began the
culture of bull-frogs. Persons who
heard of the new venture smiiea until
they learned that she was making
a lot of money selling frog's legs at
big prices to New York hotels and
restaurants. In order to get the fresh
air she does her own killing. Attired
in rubber boots, she tramps about
the marshes and shoots the frogs
with a small rifle.?Kansas City
Journal.
BANK FOR DENMARK.
Committee Meets With Encouraging
Success in Raising Capital.
Denmark, May 28.?A local committee
has been canvassing the town
and adjoining territory for several
weeks soliciting subscriptions to
Btock for a new bank at Denmark.
Up to the present time about twothirds
of the proposed capital of
$25,000 has been subscribed. This
will give Denmark two banks. The
territory is small, yet it is conceded
that money can he loaned by the new
enterprise in great abundance.
Within a radius of 12 miles, taking
Denmark as a centre, there are now
Beven banks, and all have done well,
clearing good dividends to their
stockholders. The new bank will be
known as the Citizens' and Exchange
Bank of Denmark. Mr. C. W. Garris
is spoken of as president of the institution,
and Mr. F. V. James as
cashier. Mr. James is the present
freight agent for the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad Company at this
place. A lot belonging to Garris &
Corbett, not far from the Southern
railroad, has been selected for the
site of the new building.
The present bank at Denmark has
had a successful history for many
years, noted for a conservative management
of its affairs and absolute
safety to its depositors. Panics and
tight money markets have never yet
embarrassed its officials or gave
them one moment's fear of failing to
give its customers, upon demand,
every dollar of their money without
previous notice to the bank. Dr. S.
D. M. Guess is president of this timehonored
institution. He is noted for
his exceptional ability and sound discretion
in all matters intrusted to his
care. With this official there is no
such word as "failure." So in the
competitive field the new bank will
very likely get its legitimate share
of the business and the old bank will
continue to grow, offering more and
better accommodation to its customers,
who have been closely connected
with this enterprise for nearly a
quarter of a century.
1 AIKEN BANK VICTIMIZED.
Clever Forgery Worked on Farmers'
and Merchants' Bank.
Aiken, May 27.?A clever forgery
has just been detected in Aiken. A
party whose indorsement is "Henry
Williams," carried a check to the
Farmers' and Merchants' bank,
cashed it, and made good his escape,
and up to this time no trace of tne
man has been found.
The check was drawn upon G. L.
Toole, Esq , and the amount on the
.ace of it was $40. The forgery was
one of the cleverest pieces of work of
the kind ever seen in Aiken. The
check was drawn upon one of Mr.
/ .Vit.nb-Q tnrn from his rhppk
? UUlt Q WU?'VUU) WA u A.
book. The writing on the front of
the check is a splendid imitation of
Mr. Toole's writing and the signa!
ture, purported to be Mr. Toole's, is
, almost perfect. On the back the
name of Henry Williams, written in
, an entirely different hand, hardly
more than a scrawl, is given as indorsement.
The check was presented
at the Farmers' and Merchants'
bank, on which bank it was draawn,
on last Saturday, and was cashed. It
was not discovered, however, until
, some time later, when Mr. Toole had
occasion to call for his checks, and
found this forged one among them,
i The police are now on the outlook
for "Henry Williams," but inquiry
fails to locate such a person in this
city, or hereabouts. The bank offi
cials state that the man who had the
check cashed was a negro.
A Thrilling Rescue.
|' How Bert R. Lean, of Cheny,
Wash., was saved from a frightful
death is a story to thrill the world.
"A hard cold," he writes, "brought
on a desperate lung trouble that
baffled an expert doctor here. Then
I paid $10 to $15 a visit to a lung
specialist in Spokane, who did not
| help me. Then I went to California,
but without benefit. At last I used
Dr. King's New Discovery, which
completely cured me and now I am
as well as ever." For lung trouble,
, bronchitis, coughs and colds, asthma,
croup and whooping cough its
| supreme. 50c. and $1.00. Trial bottle
free. Guaranteed by Peoples
Drug Co., Bamberg, S. C.
Knights of Pythias.
At the meeting of the grand lodge,
I Knights of Pythias, held in CharlesI
ton last week, the following officers
J were elected to serve for the ensuing
year:
Grand chancellor, A. G. Rembert,
| of Spartanburg.
i Grand vice-chancellor, J. W. Doar,
of Georgetown. .
Grand prelate, Frank K. Myers, ol
i Charleston.
, Grand keeper of records and seal,
i C. D. Brown, of Abbeville.
Grand master of the exchequer,
( Wilson G. Harvey, of Charleston.
Grand master-at-arms, J. L.
, Reeves, of North.
Grand inner guard, H. K. Cottingham,
of Dillon.
Grand outer guard, W. R. Fish1
?? Klo
> UUIXi, VI Vl/iuwwiw*
Supreme representative, M. L.
Smith, of Camden; M. R. Rivers, alternate*
After the election the new officers
were installed.
At the business session $1,000 was
voted to the uniform rank and the
Thorn well memorial committee was
continued with authority to solicit
subscriptions.
The money on hand for this me1
morial was voted to be invested, and
the interest applied to the relief of
widows and orphans.
, The following committees were appointed:
Judiciary?J. J. Burnett, Spartan
* * J/3/\ r? Crohnrtr T-T
Dlirg , JCVUUt/Tl lilUC) v/i au^vMu* o )
L. Erckmann, Charleston.
Ways and Means?G. W. Dick,
Sumter; J. B. Guess, Denmark; D. T.
Evans, Elloree; J. M. Rushton Johnston;
W. X. Gunter, Gaffney.
State of Order?J. W. Doar, ex officio,
Georgetown; H. M. Ayer, Florence;
L. K. Anderson, Clinton; J. F.
Watkins, Anderson; J. W. Mcintosh,
Hart8ville.
Credentials?A. E. Boozer, Columbia;
J. A. Banks, St. Matthews; J. H.
Merritt, Pelzer.
Printing?A. G. Rembert, ex officio;
C. D. Brown, ex officio; R. L.
Dargan, Abbeville.
Libraries and Reading Rooms?F.
K. Myers, ex officio; J. W. Doar, ex
officio; L. T. Baker, Columbia.
Widows and Orphans?A. G. Rembert,
ex officio; W. H. Dunkin (one
year), Charleston; J. J. McSwain
(two years), Greenville.
GTand Tribune?O. J. Bond, Charleston.
District deputy grand chancellors:
First, R. L. Weeks; second, D. McIntyre;
third, H. E. Gyles; fourth,
A. Deal; fifth, C. H. Wilson; sixth,
T T*r cflTronth A V Martin:
J. vv . aait) vuvut _? ,
eighth, W. C. Doyle; ninth, J. H.
Craig; tenth, J. L. Michie; eleventh,
A. Z. StrOman.
"Wets" Win in Petersburg.
Petersburg, Va., May 27.?After
the bitterest and hardest fought political
campaign in the history of this
city, the Anti-Saloon League of Virginia
met a signal defeat to-day, the
"wets" winning by a majority of 578
in a total vote of 1,792. The league
made a most aggressive fight, bringing
many of its strongest speakers
into the fiield. The fight for the
"wets" was made by the Business
Men's Association, which relied on
home speakers and vigorously and
successfully attacked the league's
imported speakers.
The election to-day was marked by
the league's serving luncheon at the
polls and having women and children
singing and praying. (
Only one breach of the peace occurred
to-day and that was between
two church members, Rev. Sidney
Peters, secretary of the Anti-Saloon
league, and Wesley G. Andrews, a
merchant and a member of the common
council. Mr. Andrews challenged
Mr. Peters' vote and hot words
ensuing, Mr. Peters passed the lie, it
is alleged, either in terms or meaning,
and received a slap in the face.
Both parties will be before the police
court to-morrow.
-'V '.--v el/
'.I
IS FROM FACTORY TO YOUR HOME jl p ^
H Boardman & Gray Pianos, Albany, N. Y. Es- >
II tablished 1837. | i W}M
|j Briggs Pianos, Boston. Established 1868. |
M Merrill Pianos, Boston. i ;
p| Norris & Hyde Pianos, Boston. Established |
I a Clough & Warren Organs, Detroit. Established j i
A line of Pianos and Organs which will please the most critl- S
?5 cal, from which selection may be made to suit anybody, both in 2
quality and price. j 1
REMEMBER I keep no store and have no expense attached to ?
II the sale of any Piano except what is absolutely necessary, viz: j : I
15 Freight from factory to your home, one drayage from your depot, C
| C and cost of stool and scarf, which I give you. j
MANY YEARS in the Piano business as tuner and salesman ?
3 I taught me to have to do with only good instruments, and my
gj | methods of business enable me to give you Fine Pianos at very |R
* I reasonable prices. Inquiries will receive prompt attention. |E
p TUNING CAREFULLY DONE. {I |p
11 0- A- LUCAS, 1 , $1
; 11 P. 0. Box 490. Augusta, Ga. B
./ v|Sf
Our Prices on fB
Building Material
Will Save Yon from 10 to 20 per cent. fl
I Lime, Cement, Plaster, J|
Doors, Sash, Screen 5ash, W
Blinds, Screen Doors, etc. IB
Mantels, Orates, Paints, fj|
I Tile, Varnish, Glass, and ; ?
Building Material of all |B
kinds. Our services are t H
prompt, x x x x -mm
R. J. Horne & Co.
Lone Distance 'Phone 473.
- a VVMKI A A j ,v^>
I 657 Broad St auuusxa, ua.
1 WRITE FOR PRICES AND CATALOGUE. M
T Via Southern Railway Account United Confederate Veteran's leaaita. J
2 Account Annual Reunion, Confederate Veterans at Memphis, ^ J
J the Southern Railway announces very low rate of one cent per t
2 mile, distance traveled, from all points to Memphis and return, ?
X tickets to be sold June 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, limited for return t
2^ until June 14th, 1909. By depositing tickets at Memphis and ^
2 payment of fifty cents, extension of final limit can be had until
Round trip rates from principal points as follows: t ' '%%
2 Greenville 11.90 Greenwood $11.90 JT
7 Columbia 13.60 Lancaster 1&80 ..'Sggr
w Chester 13.20 Newberry. 12.75.W
X' Charleston 14.85 Orangeburg 13.75 L
T Camden 14.25 Prosperity. ..... 12.90 r - %
0H* BlacksbUTg 1J5.1V nw* am www _J.
Anderson 11.45 > Spartanburg 12.50
T Abbeville $11.45 Sumter 14.45 T vr.ij
T Proportionately low rates from all other points. "F
J For further information, tickets, etc., apply to Southern Rail- "F . '-<?
2 way ticket agents or address,
2 J. L. MEEK, J. C. LUSK, ?
Asst. Gen. Pass. Agt., Division Pass. AgtM
Tioover^^DTu^^tor^ 1
We beg to call your attention to our new soda I
fountain, which we have recently installed. We I
have also overhauled our entire store and have
made it inviting to the most fastidious. ^jjf?
We have a well selected line of Valentines. I ?
Sole agents for the famons Huyler's Candies. 'I
Our Patent Medicines, Drug and Sundry lines are I J
complete. I
PRESCRIPTION WORK A SPECIALTY. 1
^iO^O^^R*^^RUa^^DRtEj