Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE LARGEST Circulation of Any Newspaper in the Fifth Congressional District of S. C. The ledger. SEMI-WEEKLY—PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. WE GUARANTEE The Reliability of Every Adver tiser Who Uses the Col umns of This Paper. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. ESTABLISHED FEB. 16, 1894 GAFFNEY, S. C., FRIDAY, MAY 3!>, 190.3. 81.00 A YEAR. A LEDGER MAN VIS ITS NEW ORLEANS. Things He Saw and Heard During the Trip. IN THE CRESCENT CITY. A DPHcription of the Country Throii|;li Which He I'uHHed tin<l IncUlentH on the Wt*y—A Stop-fiver In HirmlnKhan, ami then tiie U»y Crencent City. With a railroad pass to Birming ham, Ala., and a few samoleons in hie pocket, with a heart full of mis givings md pleasant anticipations which chased each other around like a bulldog ^chases a cat, a Ledger man boarded No. 35 of the Southern Railway last Tuesday night a week ago to take in, or be taken in, by the celebration at the Crescent City. The train was tilled to its capacity, as well as some of the passengers, but we managed to find a corner in the smoker and took a quiet snooze. When the great orb of day began to peep o’er the eastern horizon we awoke to find ourself looking out up on lake Ponce de Leon on the suburb of the Gate City. We tarried in At lanta sixty minutes and three ticks, during which time wo visited a res taurant and were refreshed by a “hand out.” Boarding the horseless carriage again we were soon speeding through the red hills of Georgia toward the iron district of Birming ham. Our attention was attracted to the great number of vineyards en route, and a fellow passenger was kind enough to inform us that grape growing was one of the principal in dustries. This no doubt accounted in part for the very lazy aspect of affairs. The country along tnis route impressed us as being very poor and the people as very indolent. Now and then we would come to a fertile vali .y where the soil was rich and bore evidence of being tilled by skill ful hands, but as a whole, it was rocky hill-sides lying dormeut, with immense red guiiies washed out. A notable feature was the presence of the gentleman cow. Bull Durham Tobacco and Bull’s Cough Syrup signs were on every side, while Mr. Bull was the chief means of locomotion, he being geared up to the plow, the wagon and the buggy. The land in this section is so rocky and stumpy as to not require a whip to urge the beast of burden along, for every few feet the plow strihes an obstruction with such force as to jerk the handles from the ploughman , and it hies over striking|lhe animal on the posteria sufficiently hard to urge him along. Anniston is on the road from At lanta to Birmingham, it is a busy little city of about 8000 people and nestles at the foot of a range of small mountains. It is called th i furnace town because of its iron industries. It has trolley lines, paved streets, nice buildings and a conspicuous town clock rests high up on a tower. The town has the appearance of being much larger. Along the line from Atlanta to Bir mingham we observed a yellow-top weed growing in abundance. Enquiry elicited the information that the weed was simply known as "old yellow top” and that it only grew on very poor land, and was tit for neither man nor beast. Judging from the abun dance of this weed there is a mon strous lot of poor land in that section of Georgia and Alabama. Birmingham is a great town. It is the centre of the iron industry. Im mense iron furnaces completely sur round the city and at night the glow therefrom is reheoted from every side. To the inhabitants the beauty of tbe flow of molten metal in the darkness of tbe night is lost, but to the novice it was an awe inspiring sight with an uncanny aspect. Just before reaching Birmingham the train passes through a tunnel. Just opposite us sat a beautiful young lady and a dashing gallant was pour ing sweet nothings into her eager ear faster than the revolutions of the driving wheels of the engine that pulled the train. As the train reached the -middle of the tunnel a resounding smack was heard and tbe girl said “Don’t do that again,” but when the train emerged her face wore a blush that would put to shame a crimson rose, and everybody around smiled and giggled. Isn’t it a shame that some people will insist upon being so observant? We did not leave Birmingham un til 12 o’clock that night. A friend in Birmingham was so kitd that it V W as not necessary to spend our money for edibles, so we took the allowance for that day, purchased a sleeping- car ticket and went to bed. The next morning we awoke away down in Mississippi. There is quite a con trast between tbe lay of tbe land in that portion of Mississippi through which we passed and that of Georgia and Alabama. The Mississippi land was as level as a floor. There are no bills at all and the people climb over the old time stiie instead of going through a gate in order that they may get some exercise. The land is fertile an 1 grass grows in abundance. Large herds of sheep and cattle were to be observed browsing in the lowlands. In fact, cattle-raising seemed to be tbe chief industry. Just before reaching New Orleans we crossed lake Pontchartrain on a trestle about seven miles long. This is a beautiful body of water and its surface was literally covered with fishermens’ boats. We rolled into New Orleans about 10:30 a.m. The first thing we did was to fall into the hands of a swindling hack driver who attempted to charge one-fourth more than the law allowed for conveying us to a second-rate hotel, where tbe landlord wanted to charge double his usual price lor a room. We soon gave both to understand that we were not so green as we looked to be, and that if they were looking for unso- phistocated tubes, they would be ob liged to look for people who did not hail from Gaffney, South Carolina. We settled everything on an amicable basis, deposited our grip with the Creole landlord and proceeded up- townward to see tbe sights. New Orleans has a population of 300 000 and there were about half that number of visitors present, therefore it was not surprising to have about every other man you asked a question say : “I don’t know, I am a stranger here.” We soon learned that the proper thing to do was to tell our troubles to a cop and he would aid us by directing us where to go. The remainder of the day was spent in sight-seeing, embracing a trip to Auburn park, a peep at the Father ol Waters, winding up with a visit to Athletic park and the wit nessing of a creditable presentation of that charming little^opera, “Oli vette.” The next morning we were out bright and early, considering tiie hour wo retired. Going up street we were standing on the curb watching the throng and counting our resources, when along came Tom Camp, Bert Doolittle, Will Hunt, Br ce Huggins and Dr Rigby, of -Spartanburg. Doo little tried to do us, but Tom took us into Camp and we went on a Hunt with Huggins and Rigby. At a nearby restaurant wo dined, swapped yarns, and planned the days outing, which embraced a visit to the New Orleans cotton (exchange where we met Mr. W. C. Carpenter, who intro duced us to Mr. Britton, who at one time ran a cotton exchange in Gaff ney), the Jackson brewery,the old gov ernment building where the treaty with Spain f ,r the purchase of Louis iana was signed, a church more than a hundred years old, Jackson park, the French market, the barracks, and the slaughter-house. All ol these wete very interesting places and a detailed description of each would re quire two editions of The Ledger. In the afternoon we returned to the city to witness the parade of the veterans, sons and sponsors. It was a grand spectacle, one well worth the time and money, to see those old gray haired fellows who had passed through the fiery furnace, as it were, and sur vived a rain of lead, marching along with faces wreathed in smiles, proud of their past and utill hopeful for their future. Maimed and halt and almost blind were some of them, but there were none who did not glory in the history they had helped to make. Their grand'triumpbal march of peace was one continuous ovation. Shouts of gladness rang upon the air and the waves of the Mississippi seemed to echo them. It took about two hours for tbe parade to pass a given point. Let us say just here that the^e re unions are grand affairs,and every old soldier or son of a soldier who can pcssibly do so should take them in each year. They serve to keep ablaze tbe memory of tbe grandest and most sublime heroism of man. That night we visited West End park, a place ablaze with electricity, where thousands of men, women and children had gathered to listen to music from a magnificent band, eat peanuts, pinders, goobers and ground- peas, weinnerwurst, hot tamales, etc., and drink beer, mint julips, whiskey, etc. To get an idea of New Orleans take a large pan and put a shallow dish in it, then pour water in the pan until it comes very near the top of tbe out side of the dish. The rim of tbe dish will represent the levee, tbe water represents the Mississippi river and Lake Ponchartrain. The city is built in tbe hollow of the dish, in tbe flat as it were. It is necessary to keep a constant watch on these levees, as the water is from six to twenty feet above the city and were there to be a break in the levee the whole city would be flooded. The craw-fish are a source of oonstanee annoyance, as they work passageways through the levees and start small streams. As soon as one of these openings Is detected It is repaired, for It would not requre a great while for tbe passageway to enlarge, the pressure of the water from the river being so great. New Orleans is ajhot town, not only in regard to weather, but in every other respect. It is "wide-open,” so to speak. Sunday is a day of recre ation, not of rest. The theatres, parks, baseball and all kinds of sport go on on the Sabbath the same as any other day. The saloons never close, gambling houses are wide open year in and year out. The people drink more beer and whiskey than they do water. They say the water is not healthy. The beatiful Creole women of Louisiana, to our mind, are a myth. Nearly all the pretty women we saw were visitors. Of course there are some pretty Creoles, but they are not so abundant as we bad been led to believe. There is a misconception of the word Creole, most people thinking it is a mixture of tbe white and black races. They are either French or Spanish people born of French or Spanish parents in America. They are not mixed races at all. The city is cosmopolitan in the purest sense. Americans predomi nate, but French, Spanish, Italian, and other nationalities are to be ob served. The street railway service is per haps the finest in the world. A ner- son can take a stand at Canal street and get a car to any part of the city. You may be in any part of the city and get on a car and it will take you to Canal street. The streets, excepting Canal and one or two others, remind one of alleys. Some of them are so narrow as to make it necessary to place the oar track on one side in order that vehicles may pass, and then only one vehicle can pass at the time. The Ledger man was not a stranger to the city a great while. Among old acquaintances whom we had the pleasure of meeting was James Rich ardson, son of Capt. W. H. Richard son. The meeting of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter brought back vividly scenes of dear old Gaffney Saturday was our last day and tbe time was put in as was the day be fore, in sight-seeing. In the after noon we went to the ball park and saw New Orleans nut the dobbins on the Gate City club to the tune of 7 to 4. The game was a pretty ex hibition of baseball and was witnessed by about 4,000 people who paid from 25c. to 75c. apiece for admittance. We started for home at 7:30. The trip homeward was uneventful. Everybody was tired and worn out, and when we were permitted to put foot on Cherokee soil once more a silent prayer of gratitude went up for a pleasant and profitable trip free from accident or misfortune. Suit Af;aliiHt Southern Huilivity. A. B. Gaines, by his attorneys, Hall it VVillis and Johnson & Nash, has brought suit against the Southern Railway Company to recover the pen alty provided by law for operating competing lines of railroad. Some time last year the South Caro lina and Georgia Extension Railroad, with three other lines, was consolidated into the South ern Railway—Carolina division, and by this consolidated company leased to the Southern Railway Company for a period of nine hundred and ninety-nine years. The State constitution says one railway company shall not acquire, control nor operate a competing road in this State and the law provides a penalty of one hundred dollars a day agttist any railroad for leasing, operat ing or controlling any competing line or lines in this State. The amount sued for is $33,700, oue-hulffof which, if collected.goes to the plaintiff and one-half to tbe State. Keen “Held L'p.” About four years ago the depart ment of justice “held up” certain fees which were due U. 8. commission ers in the western jurisdiction of South Carolina. Amonp those whose fees were “held up” was our towns- man, Capt. J. B. Bell. Commissoner Boll placed his claim in the hands of an atcorney at Wash ington, who brought suit In the court of claims, and he has just heard from the attorney that he has obtained judgment for the full amount of his claim. Not only does Capt. Bell get his money, but his official record has been fully vindicated. Teacher* Elected. At a meeting of the Graded School trustees Tuesday evening the vacan cies In the corps of teachers were filled by electing the following named ladies, teachers for the ensuing ses sion: Mrs G. P. Hamrick, Misses Kate Hendtrson, Sarah C. Carwile and Bessie Kendrick. Prof. R. O. Sabas was elected super intendent at a former meeting. Prof. W. 0. McArthur has declined the principalabip of Graded School No. 1, and bis successor will be elected at a subsequent meeting of the board of trustees. THROUGHOUT THE PALMETTO STATE, items of Interest of Passing Events. ALL OVER THE STATE. tCvent* th»t Have Taken Place from One End of the State to the Other Culled from Exchange* for Quick Reading by Scores of Hu*y People. Winter Canty, the negro murderer of Eliza Kershaw, will be hanged in Columbia today. J. E. Smite, pardon attorney for the United States department of justice. Washington, is seeking in formation as to the manner of grant ing pardons in this state and has written the governor a letter about the matter. Carey Styles, white, was tried -in Greenville Tuesda t for killing Walter McCarroll at Highland, Greenville county, on 19th of August last, and convicted of manslaughter. His brother, Emory, was tried as acces sory and aquitted. Salley, in Aiken county, was al most completely wiped out by fire Tuesday. Tbe fire was caused by a bursting lamp in a millinery store. Only a few isolated dwellings were left in the village, which had a pop ulation of 252 persons. Hardly a day passes now but what some additional burglary in Colum bia is added to the already long list there and the police thus far have been absolutely unable to cope with the situation. Two more crimes were reported Wednesday and in both instances the burglar showed daring. Robert Bingham, a negro employed at W. J. Whitaker’s mill,at McBee, in Chesterfield county, was shot Sat urduv night by Peter Davis, another employe. Three balls took effect, one entering the abdominal cavity. Dr. J. D. Ingram was summoned and dressed the wounds. He says Bing ham may die. Davis has fled. An audience of more than 100 people was present to witness the closing exercises of the Summerton graded school and to welcome Gov ernor Heyward, the orator of the oc casion. Governor Heyward was met at Wilsons’ Mill by a delegation of Summerton citizens and brought in to town on a special train furnished by President Wilson of the North Western. Dr. J. A. Robinson, a prominent physician ot the Due West section, died suddenly Monday morning. Last week the doctor attended tbe reunion of Confederate veterans in New Orleans and returned to bis home, five miles west of Due West, Sunday. Next morning be ate break fast with his family, returned to bis room and in a few minutes was found dead in his chair, Three seperate suits against tbe Postal Telegraph Company are now pending before Magistrate Kirby in Spartanburg, tbe plaintiff in tbe three cases being Lucinda Mason, Margaret Mason and T. J. Burnett, each party asking $100 damages be cause of the erection of the com pany’s poles upon their lands, etc. Stanyarne Wilson represents tbe plaintiffs in these cases while Raven- el A Gantt represent the defendents. G. K. Russel, of Walhalla, who went to Union to do some plumbing for the Barr Hardware Company, of Greenville, at the residence of H. F. Scafe, was instantly killed at 3:30 Mondavbythe explosion of a drum in a soda fountain, which was being recharged by Eugene Scafe, who was not hurt. Russell was watching the filling of the dram and when it ex ploded it tore a hole in his skull six or eight inches long. The remains were carried to his home Tuesday. A small fire was discovered at the beginning of the north side of Ely’s trestle near Beaufort recently. Live coals from a passing engine appear to have been the cause of the blaze. Part of a tie was consumed when it was discovered. The flames were quickly extinguished by Reeves Sams and a negro, who lives in the vicinity. But for the timely discovery It is probable that the other ties would have:burned and the next passing train placed in daager of being de railed. Tomorrow o Holiday. Tomorrow being a national holiday, Postmaster Folger wishes it made known that he will observe Sunday hours at tbe postofflee. The son of Randall Baker, who was shot Tuesday morning near Wilson by his brute of a father, had 41 bird shot picked from his legs. Tbe boy is in bed unable to work, yet, It is said that tbe man who does not de serve to have a child goes into bis room every onoe In awhile and curses, him telling him to get up and go to work. OUR POSTMASTER A Sketch of Uncle Suin'* AcromniodittlnK Local Ofliclnl. Alfred R N Folger, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickens coun ty, near Easley, in this State, on the 14th of August, 1850 He is a son of j l)r. and Mrs. A N Folger both of | Stokes County, N C , His mother j WuS Mis- 1 .Ma r y Pegrum, of a well and Lvurabiy known North Cerolina family. His father was an old line democrat but O' cau.e a Whig. He was appointed by Presid ct Van Boren atunding physudan to the Cherokee L sh<n they were transferred from X rth Carolina to the Indian reservation. • Mr. A It N Folger grew up in Pick°n8 coun' v.and attended the old- field school. I i ooliiic*' he ha« been a life long republican He resided in Greenville one year before moving to Gaffney in 1890. He came here to accent a position as ticket agent for the South-'rn Rail*-•»«- i"V'-pno»nv. and filled t In- tn I n - ‘ h • g rn- re thbn three yeero ii.- 'Oirnm.s- sinned postmaster April 1st, 1899. by President McKinlev,nnd hn?filled the position so acceptably that a succes sor has not even been hinted at Mr. Folger is fifty-two year« old, has been twice married and is the father of nine children.five of whom are living, and are following in the footsteps of their worthy ancestor as regards so briety and industry. Mr. Folger is a quiet unassuming gentleman, a K. of P , and in the business world of Gaff ney his word is as good as his bond. He is progressive and enterprising. The elegant postoffice site which the government now occupies is due to his perseverence, for it was he who was foremost in having the postoffice tnored and it was he who pureuaded the Star Theatre Company to fit up the office in such elegant style. Mr. Folger is also a stockholder in several local enterprises and lends his best influence towards the material and so cial advancement of Gaffney. He moved into his new office on Decem ber 22nd, last year. Since he has been postmaster the receipts of the office have increased 33^ per cent. He is at all times obliging and cour teous, and his efficiency is not for a moment to be questioned. ANOTHER WRECK Engine and Cur* Torn to 1’leee* itiul the Engineer Killed. One of the most serious of the many bad accidents that are continu ally occurring on theSouthernRuilway occurred at Belmont a few miles this side of Charlotte, N. C.,on Monday night, when train No. 35. a passenger train which is due here at 11:59, ran into a section of a freight train that had in some unaccountable way be come detached, the engine of which had become disabled and No. 35 was going to its relief. The detached cars met No. 35 and the awful crash came, when engine and cirs were piled up promiscuously Engineer Orr, who was running No. 35 and one of the road’s safest and most trusted engin eers was caught under his engin« which broke both of his legs and otherwise seriously injured him. Mr. Orr war carried to Charlotte on a special train; one of his limbs was amputated and everything possible was done for him but without any hope of giving him more than tem porary relief. He died Tuesday evening. When will these things cease? Tbe railroads in North and South Carolina alone, to say nothing of the balance of the country, kill too many people, and tbe legislator who can devise laws that will even make them stop and think will be a benefactor of bis day and generation. The Kentncklan*’ lioHHt. Kentnckians boast their fast horses, fine whiskey and beautiful women, but every housekeeper in this city who uses Clifton Flour, made of na tive Kentucky wheat, knows that this great state possesses another produce of unexcelled merit. W. J. Wilkins & Co. THROUGHOUT THE TAR HEEL STATE. From the Mountains to The Sea. NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. Intere*tlng Item* Concerning Onr Neigh bor* Heyoncl the Line Which May Trove Entertaining Reading for Hundred* of Ledger Reader* Mr. John H. Buis, formerly of Salis bury and who recently died in Jersey City, Mt the bulk of his estate to Bel mont College, the well-known Catho lic institution in Gaston county. As the result of burns caused by the explosion of a kerooene lamp Tuesday night, Mr. J. Ross Brown, a well-known farmer who lives four miles from Charlotte, died Wednes day morning at 4 o’clock. Among the corporations chartered Wednesday was the Pamiico Fishing Co., of Washington, with $125,000 capital. Hart Knitting Mill Co., of Flat Rock, Henderson county, and Blue RidgeConstruction Co., of Ashe ville, with $10,000 capital. Governor Aycock commutes the death sentence of Fred Vica, tbe young negro who was ti hang at Goldsboro tomorrow, for criminal as sault on an old negro woman, to life imprisonment, and be will be taken to the penitentiary at Raleigh. Emma Reese, a white woman liv ing in Charlotte, attempted suicide Tuesday night by swallowing pul verized glass. Her suffering there from was terrible and the attending physician said she would die. De spondency was said to be the cause of the act. The governor grunts the pardon of lloscoe Murruw, serving a seven year sentence in Guilford for criminal inti macy with a girl under fourteen who was the ward of the prisoner’s father. The reason for the pardon is ill health. He has a wife and one child and is of very good family. Governor Aycock presented diplo mas Wednesday to thirty-six gradu ates of the A. it M. College, at Ral eigh, one in agriculture, twenty- eight in engineering and seven in science. The commencement exer cises were elaborate and attended by an immense audience. At 12:15 o’clock Tuesday morning a disastrous wreck occurred on the main line of the Southern railway, about 12 miles from Charlotte, and only a short distant from i elmont station. Engineer A. C. Orr, a resi dent of Charlotte and a brother of Mr. W. S. Orrr, of that city, was fatally injured and an engine and 12 box cars were almost completely de molished. Engineer Orr was taken to a hospital in Charlotte where he died of his injuries Tuesday night. Tuesday near Hendersonville J. W. Lanning was attacked by a vicious hound, which, it is presumed, was mad, and his face and head were ter ribly lacerated by the teeth of the dog. The animal seized Mr. Lan ning by tbe flesh over his left eye and inflicted an ugly wound. An other serious wound was also inflict ed on Mr. Lanning’s head. H. K. Lanning, son of the above named, wont to bis father’s rescue and grap pled with the dog, unarmed, Anally choking the animal to death after being bitten in about five places on the hand*. Both the Lannings went to Atlanta to take tbe Pasteur treat* ment. That portion of Forsyth county, lyiagsix miles west of Winston- Salem was visited by one of tbe most remarkable and destructive bail storms within f ^ memory of the old est inhabitants. It is doubtful if this storm was ever equalled in that or any other section for tbe size of the hail stones and in the phenomena that small fish, perch variety, fell with the hail and some were incased in the stones. Buckets full of hail stones were taken into Winston Wed nesday morning and some of them, after lying in the sun that followed in the afternoon and all night, measured inches in circumference and weighed 8 ounces each. A singular case has come to the no tice of the physicians in Charlotte. Mr. J. T. Rushing, of that city, has a little son about two years old, who has always been very delicate. He appeared to suffer greatly with his throat for a few months, and then his lungs seemed to be affected; ’twas feared be had consumption. A few days ago his mother noticed some thing hard on his back just below tbe shoulder, and touching it found a needle, which sbi pulled out without any trouble. Thi needle was very rusty, and the child must have swal lowed It when he was very young. Tbe little child bids fair to be very healthy now and his ease is exciting a good deal of interest.