The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, June 29, 1911, Page 7, Image 7
HAD THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
_
* American Who was Compelled to
Look Down Winchesters.
Bert Wirshing, a Kansas boy, en-i
joyed the sensation a few days agoj
of looking down the muzzles of 751
I? different Winchester rifles, one at a;
time. Every time he took a look
into a gun he was forced to shout
"Viva Francisco Madero." But he
wasn't _ alone in that achievement.
P All of the other passengers on a
Mexican railroad had to do the same
thing.
It is a thrilling story that WirW
shing relates in a letter to his
father at Sterling, Kan. The young
man was on his way to Monterey to
I build a big electric power plant for
an American syndicate, when the
train was held up by a squad of
revolutionists. He tells the story in
this entertaining manner:
Dear Father: Were you ever
forced to look down the muzzles of
75 Winchester rifles?
There is a sensation connected
with it that I can't fully explain, although
I have realized it. The first
thing that dawns upon you is the
Question, what to do? Should vou
(pray, sing, dance, or beg; but before
you have time to decide, you find
yourself responding to the commands
of the voices behind the cannons
and shouting, "Viva Francisco Madero."
I secured a contract in Monterey
on Wednesday, and that evening
bought a ticket to Torreon. The International
and Central lines run almost
parallel from Monterey to Torreon,
and owing to bridges being
dynamited and burned on the International,
I took the Central, it
being the only line out of six in
?r _ it ' i 1 J
operation, snowing mat we wouiu
p be late in getting into Torreon, I
decided to sleep as late as I could,
and that sleep was not interrupted
until 8:30 the next morning, when
I was awakened by the firing of
shots and shouts from outside and
the screams of women in the car.
The train was slowing down. The
little nerve that I had left prompted
me to sit up in my berth and raise
the curtain. Upon looking out 1
saw mounted "revolutos" dashing
? from every direction. It did not
take them long to form a line as
long as our train, and upon a signal
from their "Jefe" they let out a
"Grito," "Viva Madero!" The engineer
and fireman were ordered to
dismount and join the file of the
"irevolutos." The conductor, a little
irichman nf fthmit. fin vears. rush
^ ed out and gave the captain a Methodist
handshake and told him in his
crude Spanish that the train was at
I his disposal, even to the passengers.
The captain pointed toward the
burning bridge ahead of us, to which
the conductor nodded approval, stating
that he did just iright, that we
did not want to go to Torreon any
> way, and pleaded that he allow us to
turn back. His request was disregarded
and the soldiers given orders
to come forward.
Every tenth man dismounted and
drew a long saber, wThich to me
looked longer than the Pullman car,
and proceeded to cut the fence down.
Then they formed in Indian file and
(marched around the train, each
pointing his gun into the windows
and asking each passenger "Quin
Vive?" to which each had to reply,
'Viva Francisco Madero." As the
\ rebels passed from one window to
the other each individual had to
respond, and when the 75 had passed
we had answered "Viva Francisco
Madero" 75 times. It was comical
? but hardly the place to laugh. Can
(you imagine me sitting up in my
night shirt saluting 75 rebels individually
and shouting 75 times
"Viva Francisco Madero?" The
women certainly were brave, for
after he had pushed them all into a
stuffy drawing room we never heard
a sound from them. Did you ever
feel that you were about ready to
r salute St. Peter? Well, that's the
way we all felt for a while, but we
| were all quite constrained and just
stood waiting developments and perhaps
waiting to pick holes out of
one another. A young American in
the car who had just come down
from East Orange, N. J., didn't realise
our predicament, and started to
talk about the "Gringos" and Uncle
Sam's soldiers stationed at Ft. Sam
Houston, but was soon hushed up by
a German, who said, "Mine Got, man
don't speak mit de Gringos here, they
will kilt us yet." The rebels didn't
enter the Pullman car, but searched
the first and second-class cars for
guns and ammunition. They took
? only what guns and ammunition they
could find, and did not ask fori
money. They are not thieves, butj
are soldiers, fighting for a cause.!
They relieved the express messenger
of the food in the car, stating
that they were hungry and hadn't
eaten for two days. They did not
bother the mail, and after detaining
the train for about 45 minutes
gave the conductor orders to back up
and hurry before they burned the
r
BrjS
TO CARE FOR JONES.
Movement on Foot to Aid Davis's
Body Servant.
Washington, June 21.?It became
known here to-day that a movement
will probably be begun soon to take
care of James Jones, the old negro
servant of Jefferson Davis, said to be
the only living person who knows
I where the great seal of the Confeder|
acy is hidden. A day or two ago
Senator Lodge introduced a resolution
to abolish several positions
around the senate, one of these being
held by Jgnes, who had had it a num
ber of years. It is not known whether
Jones's recent statement to the
papers in connection with the seal
and the cane which the Davis family
gave him, had anything to do with
his forthcoming dismissal, but the
fact remains that he will soon lose
his place. If the movement takes
definite form Jones will probably be
well taken care of during the remainder
of his life by the Southern
people.
Saved By Col. Jenkins.
One of those singular incidents of
the war between the sections that
turn up in this far day came to light
when Col. Thomas S. McGraw came
to Columbia Friday last to visit Maj.
Micah Jenkins at Mr. Robert F. Jenkins'.
Col. McGraw was a corporal
of the Sixteenth Michigan at Gaines'
Mill; Col. Jenkins was in command
of the Palmetto Sharpshooters in tne
same battle. The Michiganders late
in the afternoon advanced silently
toward the position of the sharp- j
shooters. Col.* Jenkins called out to
know who they were, and receiving
no answer, called again to the effect
that if they did Jnot answer
whether they were friends or foes he
would order a volley. The column
came steadily on; then their commander
ordered "Halt! Front!" Col.
Jenkins had the volley put at them,
with the result that the company was
almost completely destroyed.
Col. McG-raw was left on the field
after the encounter. He had been
shot through the shoulder, the ball
coming out under the shoulder blade
on the Apposite side and grazing his
spine, paralyzing him completely.
All the ensuing night and a part of
the next day he lay on the field practically
without assistance. When the
attention of Col. Jenkins was called
to the Union man he went to him in
person and giving him a drink of
brandy had him removed to the field
hospital. Col. McGraw was then
transferred to Libby prison in Richmond,
where after six weeks' time
he was exchanged. When he finally
returned home Col. McGraw was for
sixteen months unable to stand.
This wound terminated his career in
the war.
Col. McGraw says his recent visit
to Columbia was induced by the desire
to meet and know the sons of
Col. Jenkins to whom he owes his
life, and to tell them of the affection
he feels toward the family of his
benefactor at the battle of Gaines'
Mill.?Columbia Record.
Too Late.
Years ago, when the "Panhandle"
railroad was in course of construction,
its progress was a matter of
great interest to the people of the
region. A farmer who sold provisions
to the contractors often reached
the place where the men were at work
at meal time. He was greatly impressed
at their voracity. The work
was hard and when the dinner bell
rang every man made a dash for the
table, and before any one could believe
it possible the food had disappeared.
One day a workman on his way to
the table tripped on the root of a
tree and fell. He lay quite still,
making no attempt to rise.
The farmer rushed to him in great
concern.
"Are you badly hurt?"
"No," answered the man.
. "Well, why don't you get up and
go to your dinner?"
"No use," returned the other, sadly.
"It's too late now."?Youth's
Companion.
5 or 6 doses "666" will cure any
case of Chills and Fever. Price, 25c.
bridges behind us.
We backed un. for hours it seem
ed, until finally we arrived at Es|
tacion Hypolito, where we had
breakfast at midday. From there
we continued to Monterey, arriving
there at 8 o'clock in the evening.
One of the passengers inquired of
the auditor what we should do with
our tickets, and he suggested that
we keep them until the war is over
and then ride them out.
Our twenty-four hours' ride to the
I rebel camp was indeed a thrilling
experience, and one that I shall not
forget. The rebels all had mounts,
wore good clothing and had saddles
adorned with silver trimmings. A
number of them wore large pictures
of saints on their breasts and I noticed
that the women in the first
and second-class coaches gave them
their rosaries to wear.?Kansas City
Journal.
?- . . -J.
FIRED THE FIRST SHOT.
Edmund Ruffin Started the Struggle;
Later Committed Suicide.
There is always a fascination about
the first, whether it's a baby, a pair
of trousers, a high hat or the discoverer
of the north pole.
And so it is that, with the fiftieth
anniversary of the civil war, there is
a particular interest attaching to the
man who fired the first shot.
There has been some dispute about
it, but the consensus of opinion has
settled upon Edmund Ruffin as the
one who "fired the shot that freed
the slaves." Certain it is that he
suffered the ill fortune that pursues
so many benefactors of the human
race, because he ended a career of
misery by firing a final shot that gave
him entrance to "that bourne from
which no traveler ever returns."
Withal, he was an unwilling benefactor,
because he was such an ardent
secessionist that when he saw
the blue would win he ended his life
rather than endure ''Yankee rule."
A book that the passing of years
has made interesting is in the possession
of Captain Noble D. Preston,
of Philadelphia. It is a history of
the American revolution, and was
the property of Edmund Ruffin.
Captain Preston will never forget
the day that his servant"Aaron handed
him the book, roi with it came a
handsome pair of heavy blankets.
Preston, with his comrades of the
Tenth New York cavalry, was near
the James river in May, 1864, when
one night Aaron woke his master up
by throwing the heavy blankets on
him. Aaron had been out with a
party on a foraging trip. But he
never told where he got the articles.
As Captain Preston never allowed
his men to enter a house except to
get eatables, he took the negro boy
sharply to task. But when the captain
looked at the blankets he noticed
the initials "U. S." "Well, whoever
had these blankets stole them,
so you're all right, Aaron," he remarked.
The history has since been in the
relic chest at Captain Preston's
home, he didn't take it out until a
few days ago, when General Pryor
announced that he had been first delegated
to fire that first shot. The
captain pasted this recent newspaper
clipping in the back of the book beside
an old, yellow clipping which
chronicled the suicide of Ruffin.
The book is the first volume of a
history written by David Ramsey, M.
D., and was published by R. Atkin &
Son in Philadelphia. Besides the signature
and bookmark of Ruffin there
are two other signatures on the front
covers. One is "Alexander Mitchel
r J ?9 -1 11 -XI.-,- i i TTT
son, ljonaon, ana me oiuer w.
Harrison, January 14, 1804."
The first clipping on the back cover
reads as follows:
"Old Edmund Ruffin, who fired the
first gun on Ft. Sumter, committed
suicide on Saturday last near Danville,
Va., by blowing his brains out
with a musket. He had become very
low-spirited since the capture of
Richmond, and did not wish to live
under Yankee rule. He left a note
saying, "I cannot survive the loss of
the liberties of my country."
Then, after 46 years, another clipping
throws a different light on the
firing of the first shot It is this
statement of General Roger Atkinson
Pryor, the soldier, editor and lawyer.
It reads as follows:
"The first shot on Ft. Sumter
freed the slaves, but that was not my
my intention when I viewed the cannon's
fuse, prepared to touch it off.
"I was then a lawyer of 33 from
Virginia, and had made a speech in
Charleston just a few days before
the 12th of April, 1861, in which I
said: 'Strike one blow and Virginia
will secede in an hour by the Shrewsbury
clock.' It was in compliment
for this speech that General Beauregard
bestowed upon me the honor of
firing the first shot. Ruffin had a paper,
of which he had been editor for
many years. He was the first advocate
of secession as distinct from Calhoun's
doctrine of nullification. Virginia
did not favor Ruffin's notion
strongly. That is why Ruffin went
to soutn uaronna to propouna nis
doctrine. He went to Charleston in
April. Charleston was beleagured
with 3,000 to 4,000 young Southern
gentlemen, all in fighting trim. With
these boys Ruffin enlisted. He was
present when General Beauregard
asked me to fire the first shot. I introduced
him to the general and told
the general what Ruffin had done to
further the cause of the South, and
persuaded him to allow Ruffin to fire
it. The general was persuaded. Ruffin
fired the first shot. Virginia
thereupon seceded, uniting the entire
South."
Ruffin's name would hardly be
known to-day if General Pryor had
obeyed the first instructions.
The taking of the old book from
his chest has brought back old memories
to Captain Preston, and once
again he wonders what became of
hie faithful hnv Aflrnn Anrnn fll
ways said that was his only name and
he never had another one.
Like Topsy, Aaron didn't know anything
about his past. Captain Preston
met him during the early part
Take it from the oldest man in the bunch, " Red Meat" tob
KILLS HIS BROTHER.
Negro Near Saluda Resented Kindly
Advices.
Saluda, June 21.?Charged with
killing his brother, Mimms Thomas,
Cicero Thomas, a negro, was lodged
in jail here yesterday evening. The
killing took place early Tuesday
morning two miles west of Saluda.
The negro placed in jail is considered
half-witted. It appears that it was
his custom to carry his gun about.
His brother censured him for it. Becoming
angry Cicero went to a nearby
store, procured some shells, and
returning home fired at Mimms, killing
him instantly.
Cheating the Dead.
To steal pennies from a dead man's
eyes has been held for ages as the
most contemptible form of thievery.
But modern days have developed a
meaner depth of larceny?the betrayal
of trust whereby poor bodies are
defrauded of the few feet of earth to
which they are entitled as a last resting
place. No walk of life is free of
these plunderers, the relatives or
heirs who succeed to comfortable
fortunes being quite as apt to rob
their dead benefactors as poor men
are to run away and shirk responsibility.
Mr. Smith?who is in this instance
a composite person?was a fairly
prosperous New York business man.
His wife died in 1906. He mourned
her with every indication of sincerity,
and had her body kept in the receiving
vault of a high priced cemetery
near New York City for nearly a year.
Then he learned of a less expensive
place farther away, and had the coffin
removed to it. The bereaved man
was so overcome with grief that he
could not immediately select a burial
plot. After six months he revisited
the cemetery and spent hours looking
over the grounds. With tears in
his eyes he told the salesman who
showed him about how beautiful his
wife had been; what a sweet, lovable
character she had; how devoted she
had been to him. Indeed, he became
so sad, as he once more realized his
loss, that he could not proceed with
the melancholy business of choosing
a plot. He went away, still overwhelmed
with emotion and saying he
would return when he was more composed.
That was more than two
years ago. He has not been back
yet.?Harper's Weekly.
A Good Safe.
t
Safe Manufacturer?The safe was
badly burned. .
Merchant?Yes it was.
Safe Manufacturer?And yet the
1 1
UUUKS were nut uaimcui
Merchant?No, they were not.
Safe Manufacturer?Ah, that's
good! Perhaps you will allow me tor
write a statement to that effect for
you to sign?
Merchant?All right. But maybe I
had better tell you that the books
were not in the safe when the fire
occurred.
of the war and he was faithful to the
end, even following him to Philadelphia.
When Captain Preston recovered
from serious wounds near the close
of the war and went to Washington
on his way^North, Aaron stuck with
him. Aaron walked with his master
to the train shed, wearing his saber
and belt. Noticing how down-hearted
Aaron was the captain asked him if
he wanted to go "north." "Golly, j
master, I'd like to."
*
But Aaron forgot a satchel and
went back to the headquarters to get
it. The train went off without
Aaron, and Captain Preston arrived
in Philadelphia minus the faithful
servant. He stayed in Philadelphia
for several days visiting friends prior
to going to his home in New York.
Before going to the old Kensing-;
ton depot to catch his train he went
down to the Washington Avenue deThcro
ho maa tf? RPP
pVVl i. UV/i UV fT MM MMAMWWM .
Aaron walking wildly up and down
the street with the satchel, saber and
belt. There was a grand reunion,
but it wasn't to last long. Aaron
stopped to talk to some negroes and
the captain lost track of him. But
he got his belt and saber, and still
has them.
Aaron, it appears, was arrested
when he went back to the quarters
and was brought before General Ab-j
ercrombie. The officer commanded
him to give up the belt and saber,
but the plucky little fellow refused j
to do it. He explained that "a bullet
went clear through that belt and
through Massa Preston's body, and
Massa Preston wouldn't part with it
for a mint." The general admitted
the boy's nerve and was also impressed
with the story and gave him a
pass out of the city.
To Aaron the "north" was a def-1
inite place, and he thought that if i
he boarded any train going north he
would find the captain. So it was entirely
by accident that Captain Preston
got his mementos.
Aaron, if he is living, is the only
one that can explain where Ruffln's
book came from. ? Philadelphia
North-American.
I
ICCO IS uc cncw lur men. nu sjnee?uu cwcssivc awcewmi|?
nothing to hurt your stomach?just good old North Carolina to*
bacco, properly aged and perfectly sweetened. That's why it
won't give you heartburn.
It's our treat to put you on to the real thing in good chewing.
Cut out this ad. and mail to us with your name and address far
attractive FREE offer to chewers only.
LIIPFERT SCALES CO., Winston-Salem. N. C
' -:W
9 y
Name , rPM
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/iddress ? ? ,,
Ir zt,j i rzii=r=W^f^rjWM
r#Tlj i I '} ffi 11 iGMrrAlaS
i r ^ 1
3 Never Leak?Never Need Repairs?Fireproof?Stormproof?Handsome?Inexpensive?Suitable
for all kinds of buildings. We have local
representatives almost everywhere but if none in your immediate
locality, write us direct for samples, prices and full particulars.
CORTRIGHT METAL ROOFING COMPANY
50 North 23rd Street Philadelphia, Pa.
i 0WN' AN1AUT0HOBILE! i J
? I have for sale, at prices that will as- w* ; M
tonish you, two second-hand rebuilt auto
* mobiles which are just as good as the day '#
* they came from the factory, one model #?
* "S" two-passenger Ford, and one four- 'W
* passenger Buick touring car. Come and v
4 let me show you what bargains they are. 9 '
J J. B. BRICKLEl |
The Bamberg Negro Farmers* Fair
Automohllefl RcD3irfifl The Bamberg Negro Farmers' and
nuiuiuuuuto livpouul Pajr Association will hold their AnPrompt
Service nual Picnic and BarBecue in the towit
of Bamberg, S. C., July 4, 1911.
? Speaking will take place in the coart
house, beginning at eleven o'clock ju
m. The principal speaker will be
^ Prof. Ira Williams, State Farmers*
d# a Demonstration Agent, who will make \||3
iM'LCTPT j plain tlle ol)^ect ojf th6 demonstration v
^ work among the farmers in the connf
^P@Hr2fi3HL *!&?> ' ties in the State of South Carolina. H
?f Hon- Mayfie*d and other
> prominent white farmers of this'
1w<fM county will be present, and have .k
>,,?$880P3SC^E?W fv consented to say a few words of encouragement.
Every demonstrator IfaSSrand
every farmer who desires to be
*v I benefitted and who is interested fa ... /
\^cJ_l WEBB/_ our general uplift is expected to be
present. Every farmer is expected *
to bring his basket ladened with
nice things to eat. We are going to
; have a plenty of barbecued meat,
plenty of lemonade, and we hope to f
Oil and Gasoline For Sale feed all who may come. We are
Agent* for Goodyear Tires making a special appeal to the women
and men, and even our white
friends of Bamberg, to help as make
WYI I IAM U P A TP If If this a ?reat day for Bamberg, and the
TT ILLIfilTl II* I ft I RIvu people. We are planning to secure a
Gas Engine Expert brass band to make music for us.
E. D. JENKINS,
' J R. W. WROTON, President
Secretary.
Corpse Found in Well. _
Columbia, June 22.?Well diggers
cleaning a well at 1814 Hardin street, ?y
premises which have been vacant for
seven months, found this morning a
badly decomposed body, supposedly
that of Ed Patterson, a colored employee
of the Palmetto Ice Company, "LOMBARD
with the right side?of his skull crush- , Improved Saw lflffl&j
Patterson disappeared some months VARIABLE FRICTION FEED. ^ndV.iub^'j
ago, and Coroner Walker thinks the .Best material and workmanship, lightj
body has been in the well about six sy'^'.a^dl'e^Are madTin wvLlj
months. Patterson's watch chain sizeg and are good, substantial moneys
was found, but the watch was miss- making machines down to the smallestj
ing. The house is in the rear of the size. Write for catalog showing En??
made. ^ aucusta, ca.
Thft Girl's Handicap.
? ? ? ?
J. F. Carter B. v. carter
In her pretty new frock sister
Mabel felt quite proud as she sat on CARTER & CARTER
the front step and watched some boys t?
. 1 Attorneys-at-Law
playing on the sidewalk, says the
Youngstown Telegram. Bamberg, S. C.
After a time one little boy came Special attention given to setup
to talk to her and admire, in his tlement of estates and investiI
rough little way, her bright shiny gation of land titles,
shoes and pink sash. ???
"See my nice square-cut waist," -- ?
exclaimed the girlie, " and my nice Year Books,
coral beads! Don't you wish you wuz I have for free distribution a lima
girl?" ited supply of agricultural year books
"No, sir-ee," replied the boy. "I for 191?. Any one desiring a copy .
wouldn't want to be any girl at all, can obtain the same by dropping mo
because lookie how much more neck a postal. JAMES F. BYRNES,
you haf to wash." Washington, D. C.
-