The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, June 26, 1903, Image 6
*WW;-
AS THE TALE
WAS TOLD
By HOWARD MARCUS STRONG
Copurifjht, 1902, bn Hr ward Marcus Strong
N AUTICAL nomenclature has al
ways possessed for me an un
accountable attraction. As It
is a harmless and inexpensive
whim I have humored it to the extent
of ornamenting my rather extensive
vocabulary with such terms as “splice
the main brace” and “half s eas over.”
As a matter of fact, I never saw a
bark, brig, sloop, ship, schooner or
smack in my life, and I could not, no
matter how great the necessity, ideu-
tify a binnacle, capstan or spanker
t>ootn. Notwithstanding, I can tell a
sea story that introduces in their prop
er places a hull, a bowsprit and a main
crosstree.
My intimate friends know this story
by heart, but never tire of hearing me
recount it. They aver that I saturate
it with all the realism of a transatlan
tic voyage, and if 1 but keep the vessel
rising and falling a moment too long
in the trough of the sea many are af
fected with all the symptoms of mal-
fle-mor.
When strangers are.present during a
recital of the story I frequently try to
abridge it, disliking to cast a gloom
over the company. But the moment
my friends perceive that I am minded
to scuttle the ship and send all to the
bottom in forty fathoms of water they
cry out:
“And how many of the crew escaped
on the metallic life raft with the Ger
man passenger?”
Then I know that the fourteen hide
ous days beneath a tropical sun with
only a gill of water in the cask and a
ship’s biscuit in the passenger's pocket,
the thirteen delirious nights, with mad
dening dreams of bubbling fountains
and tx>untiful banquets, all must be
gone through with. Though my own
throat grows sympathetically dry and
my lips are ready to crack open at the
thought of the driving salt spray, still
must the daily lots be drawn and the j
horizon scanned in vain for a passing
sail.
Those who have never told a sea sto
ry cannot appreciate the accompanying
strain upon the raconteur’s nerves.
Having all the natural endowments of
a great actor, I unconsciously put my
whole soul into the scene and suffer
pang for pang with each member of the
ill fated crew. By the time the Glouces
ter whaler removes from tin* metallic
life raft the remains of the crew (the
first mate’s thigh bone) and the de
mented German passenger I am in al
most the same condition as the single
survivor. Upon several occasions I
have gone so far as to represent my
self as being this same unfortunate in
dividual. my Teutonic cast of counte
nance materially aiding the deception.
In order that my position in the af
fair of honor with the French admiral
“I HAVE LIVED THKOUGH IT.’’
may be clearly understood it will b«
necessary for me to confess that the
sea story has grown from recital to re
cital. To be candid, it has progressed
from the collision of an Ohio river tow
boat with a bridge pier to the highly
dramatic account of an ill omened ves
sel which set sail on Feb. 13 without a
rat in the hold and the water in the
well only kept down to bilge depth by
the constant action of the steam siphon.
Every one will understand that this
deft perversion of facts had ns its only
object the entertainment of others. My
wife was always sure of a treat for her
guests, no matter how unexpectedly
they might arrive. The piano might be
out of tune, the phonograph records
ruined or the plngpong balls lost, but
my wife had only to launch the conver
sation into the well worn ways <>f ocean
travel, and then she was free to devote
her mind to the serious problem of pre
paring a presentable repast from the
remains of a previous meal. On more
than one occasion my graphic descrip
tion of the agonizing pains of slow star
vation has created such an appetite in
the minds, or, rather, in the digestive
apparatus, of my auditors that they
subsequently devoured manipulated
mutton under the pleasing impression
that they were dining on chicken cro
quettes.
It is perhaps needless to state that
the fame of my sea story spread be
yond the coniines of my own home.
The marine word painting was all the
more appreciated because of the geo
graphical location of our inland city.
At the club they were never tired of
listening to the lapping of the waves
against the corrugated sides of the me
tallic life raft. Give me three minutes’
start, they said, with a spanking
breeze abaft the mizzen, and it was
bowsprits to belaying pins that Clark
Bussell could not overhaul me in an
evening’s time.
Whenever a guest of distinction was
present at the club my sea story was
expected as a matter of course. Upon
such occasions I would make the wind
roar through the rigging and the an
chor chain rattle through the hawse
hole. Every time the vessel careened I
would bury her rail under a breaker,
and then, as she righted herself, you
could fairly hear the water gurgling
out through the scuppers.
But to return to the French admiral
and the affair of honor which has been
town talk for a fortnight. Personally
I have done everything possible to
quiet the wild rumors regarding the
encounter in the banquet hall, but they
reoccur so persistently and are so
grossly distorted that I feel forced to a
plain statement of facts.
It seems that the fellow had been
foisted upon the club by an obscure
member named Drlggs. For two even
ings this obtrusive Frenchman had mo
nopolized the general conversation and
wearied the members with verbose ac
counts of alleged adventures in five
quarters of the globe. On the third
night Bradlee was delegated by the
long suffering ones to wait upon me
and demand my immediate presence on
penalty.
“You see,” he explained, “it is a mat
ter of self preservation. This French
admiral is making life a burden for us.
Because we happen to be stranded a
thousand miles from salt water be im
agines us capable of swallowing his
three masted lies. You must comedown
and make him take water. Just heave
to in the offing until he gets well under
way and then cut him out. Crowd on
all sail and give him a run for his mon
ey. When you have overhauled him
bring every gun to bear and squirt a
broadside of gloom into his most vul
nerable parts. You are the only man in
the state that is qualified to throw the
grapples into his rigging and board
him on equal terms. Remember, there
is to Ik* no quarter. Make him strike
his colors or send him to tin* bottom.
Of course my words are only figura
tive, but you can doubtless follow the
main drift of my remarks.”
Now, I leave it to the most cold
blooded if any one could withstand
such an appeal as that. No man of
honor could hang back and see his fel
low countrymen put to shame by a for
eign invader. Besides, there was every
indication of sport equal to an interna
tional yacht race or a naval duel be
tween two first class men-of-war.
“Lead on,” I said; "this night will I
deliver you from the jaw of the ene
my.”
When we eventually arrived at the
club the Frenchman had already hoist
ed his mainsail and was heading for
open water. At my entrance every one
smiled save the admiral. He held to
his course and minded not the secret
signals which passed between the mem
bers. If I remember correctly he was
loaded with rum and teakwood and
had half the crew down with scurvy. I
waited until he had drifted for three
days, without a cloud in the sky and
the sea like a huge shield of burnished
brass. Then Bradlee gave me the wink.
“And no one,” I said, “can better ap
preciate such a situation than myself.
I have lived through it day by day,
hour by hour, minute by minute. On
Feb. 13”-
Just then the Frenchman made a
noise in his little black beard which
Bounded like the explosion of a wet
firecracker. He cleared his throat, he
stamped his foot, he said things which
are fortunately untranslatable. It was
all to no purpose. By that time I was
In latitude 50 degrees and some min
utes, and the most terrible storm
which had ever visited the southern
hemisphere had just sheared off our
masts like so many pipestems. Seeing
that he was clearly outclassed, the ad
miral relapsed into an armchair and
never again opened his lips until the
crew of the Gloucester whaler pulled
the German passenger off the metallic
life raft and threw the first mate’s
thigh bone to the sharks.
Then the little man sprang up.
“Yer’ good,” he cried approvingly—
“ver’ good and absolute true! But you
mistake in this—ze passenger was
French, not German.”
Drlggs laughed boisterously. AVew
of the members joint'd in his ill timed
mirth. But I still had a round shot
left in my locker.
“You are laboring under a delusion,
sir,” I replied, without so much as
glancing In his direction. “There is no
question as to the passenger’s nation
ality. I was that passenger.”
Upon this the Frenchman whipped
out an official looking document, all
covered with seals and red tape and
scrawly writing.
"Gentlemen,” said he, with forced
calmness, “will you have the benevo
lence to rend of such?”
Drlggs took the parchment, which
was all in French, and gave a free
translation of Its contents. The whole
thing might have been and doubtless
was a transcript from my own story.
, It certified that the admiral was the
sole survivor rescued from the metallic
life raft by the Gloucester whaler and
wa> bucked up by the affidavits of the
captain and half the crew. Most men
would have gone down under such a
blow as that, but 1 am made of sterner
stuff.
“Really,” I laughed, “you are going
to a great deal of trouble to make your
self ridiculous. Joking aside, there nev
er was such a passenger. The whole
story is fictitious.”
Events followed one another quite
rapidly during the next few moments,
and I am unable to saj r who first intro
duced the word “liar” into the conver
sation. There were a great hubbub and
overturning of chairs and interposing
of mutual friends, while all the time
the Frenchman kept yelling “Zatees-
vaction!” at the top of his voice.
I am a peaceable man and cannot yet
understand how I permitted myself to
bo dragged into a duel with the admi
ral. My first clear conception of the sit
uation came when I was left standing
alone in one end of the large banquet
hall with a revolver tightly grasped in
one hand. At the other end of the room
JF
CUFTON MILLS IN OOO© SHAPE.
Directors Issue Statement as to Losses
by Recent Storm.
Spartanburg, S. C., June 24.—The
board of directors of the Clifton Man
ufacturing company has issued an im
portant circular to the stockholders re
lating to the recent disaster along the
hanks of Pacelot river.
The circular sets forth succinctly
the losses and present condition of the
company, and contains ffiuch of impor
tance jast at this juncture.
The loss on Mills Nos. 1 and 2 is
placed at $300,000, and when these
mills are repaired the company will
have in operation 50,000 spindles.
The circular in part contains the
following:
“Four warehouses at Mill No. 2,
with 1,794 bales of cotton, have been
lost. This will prove almost a to
tal loss. What we most deplore hav-
ing to report is the loss of life caused
by 60 cottages having been carried
away by the raging torrent before
some of the inmates were able to es
cape.
"After a careful inspection of the
property as it now stands we are in
dined to think it is worth fully $1,000.-
000 to its stockholders, which will
serve as a good basis on which to
renovate and reconstruct the entire
plant in time. Besides, as we were
most fc rtunate in saving about 9,000'
baies of cotton, and as no manufactur
ed goods were lost, we have in our
possession quick assets which can be
converted into cash at once, more than
sufficient to cover all of our present in
debtedness.”
The board of directors of the D. E.
Converse company have rescinded the
forthcoming dividend, payable In July,
upon the capital stock of the company
The total loss at Glendale was $453,000
The present capital stock of the com
pany is $300,000, but after July 1 th«
capital stock will be $500,000. The
new Glendale mill has been completed
with its 20,000 spindles and correspond
ing equipment of draper looms. The
cost per spindle in the new mill was
$23.59, which it is said, cannot b*
boat by any mill in the south.
Kept Identity Hidden.
New York, June 24.—‘Prince George
of Bavaria, grandson of Emperor FYana
Josef of Austria, has been seeing the
United States and has sailed for home.
Under the title of “Count of Wlurtem
burg” he successfully hid his identity
here until a few hours before sailing
“We have heal'd muen in Europe ol
your American invasion hut,” he said,
“I had not realized what tremendous
resources there are in this country.
It is marvelous, especially the energy
one sees every where. Bavaria. I be
lieve. supplies the America with mor«
musicians than commercial products,
but we hope in time to remedy that.”
Tells Sensational Stery.
Chicago. June 24.—Dured from St
Louis to San Francisco by a man who
pretended to love her. then drugged,
robbe.l of $7,000 and abandoned, is the
substance of a story told by Mrs. Ju
lia Klein, of St. Ixmls, who has just
cause! the arrest of Charles Marco
Marco is a well educated Hungarian,
who Is married and lives In Chicago
He declares that he Is innocent.
The Proper Miaalle.
Judge—And what did you do to curb
his passion?
Prisoner—Hit him with a piece of
curbstone.—Town and County.
Sixty-one million out of the 121,000 -
000 acres which make up Spain’s arti.
are mountain and waste land.
Thousands Have Kidney Trouble
and Don’t Know it.
How To Find Out.
Fill a bottle or common glass with your
water and let it stand twenty-four hours: a
, sediment or set-
~ tling indicates an
unhealthy condi
tion of the kid
neys: if it stains
your linen it is
evidence of kid
ney trouble; too
frequent desire to
pass it or pain in
the back is also
convincing proof that the kidneys and blad
der are out of order.
What to Do.
There is comfort in the knowledge so
often expressed, that Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp-
Root, the great kidney remedy fulfills every
wish in curing rheumatism, pain in the
back, kidneys, liver, bladder and every part
of the urinary passage. It corrects inability
to hold water and scalding pain in passing
it, or bad effects following use of liquor,
wine or beer, and overcomes that unpleasant
necessity of being compelled to go often
during the day, and to get up many times
during the night. The mild and the extra
ordinary effect of Swamp-Root is soon
realized. It stands the highest for its won
derful cures of the most distressing cases.
If you need a medicine you should have the
best. Sold by druggists in 50c. and$l. sizes.
You may have a sample bottle of this
wonderful discovery
and a book that tells
more about it, both sent
absolutely free by mail,
address Dr. Kilmer &
Co., Binghamton, N. Y. When writing men
tlon reading this generous offer in this paper,
Home of Swamp-Root.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
“WHO 18 HORT?"
was the admiral, similarly equipped.
Strangely enough, I remember smiling
to myself at the voluminousness of his
white duck trousers.
Drlggs, who was acting as master of
ceremonies, had stationed himself mid
way between us, his back to the great
open fireplace. Unconsciously I noted
that the ashes of a dead fire still lit
tered the hearth.
“After I leave the room,” Drlggs was
saying, “the fights will be extinguished,
and that will be your signal to com
mence firing. You each have five
rounds. When your ammunition is ex
hausted we will turn on the lights and
attend to your injuries.”
lie moved quickly to the door, and
the next moment we were in total dark
ness.
The full horror of the situation can
not be expressed in words. Like a
drowning man, I lived a lifetime In a
few moments. The darkness seemed
to crush me. I gasped for breath. My
hands grew cold, and drops of moisture
trickled down between my shoulders.
I am not a coward and did not fear
being shot at. It was the possibility of
becoming a murderer that unmanned
me. I dared not discharge my pistol at
random lest a human soul be launched
into eternity.
At that Instant a brilliant Idea darted
Into my mind. I acted upon it at once
and with noiseless step crossed the hall
obliquely until my hand encountered
the rough stone mantel. Then, stoop
ing down, I advanced the muzzle of the
revolver into the yawning fireplace and
pulled the trigger five times In rapid
succession, secure in the thought that
no harm could follow such an action.
The flash of each discharge was com
pletely hidden and the reports strange
ly muffled, but the unearthly yells
which burst from the chimney could
have been heard for a mile. A rapidly
moving body hurled Itself into my
arms and bore me to the floor. The
lights came on, and the members
rushed In, with frightened faces.
“Who Is hurt?” cried Drlggs, drag
ging the admiral and myself to an up
right position.
“Mon Dleu!” walled the Frenchman.
“I have been murdered! For safety I
ascend a flue, and sat monster direct
his fire up «* leg of my taloon.”
"But they were oi..j blank car
tridges.” Drlggs protested. “The whole
thing was a Joke.”
“You call zat a Joke?” demanded the
admiral, at the same time exhibiting a
badly scorched calf.
“I did not know that our friend was
such a fire eater that he would chase
you up the chimney for the sake of a
shot,” explained Drlggs. “It seems to
have hoei»the bite of the lamb.”
“It is best,” said I, disliking his met
aphor, “not to wake the sleeping lion.”
Many Millions Donated to Founding
of Libraries,
Niagara Falls, N. Y., June 24.—A re
port submitted to the annual meeting
of the American Library association,
now in session here, shows that $11),-
306.400 was donated to the founding oi
libraries in the year ending May 31.
The report includes gifts of $800 oi
more, of 250 volumes and upward, and
such other gifts, miscellaneous in
their character, as seems specially
noteworthy. Of this amount $715,801!
were given for general endowment
funds; $86,700 for building sites;
$6,679,000 for building from Andrew
Carnegie, $1,250,988 from various don
ors; $108,000 for the establishment ol
book funds; $10 l l,600 for the purchase
of books and $1,363,400 for purposes,
the object of which was not stated.
Men aod Women
who are in need of the
beet medical treat
ment should not fail
to consult Dr. Hatha
way at once, as he is
recognized as the
leading and most suc
cessful specialist.
You are safe in
placing your case in
his hands, as he is the
longest established
and has the best rep
utation. He cures
where others fail;
there is no patchwork
or experimenting in
his treatment. Per-
j^sonal attention by Dr.
""y.-s Hathaway, also spe
DB. Hathaway. cial counsel from Ills
associate physicians
when necessary, which no other office has. If
you can not call, write for free booklet-’ am!
question blanks. Mention your trouble. Ev
erything strictly confidential J. Newtov.
Hathaway, M. D.
41 Inman Bldg. S. Broad St.. Atlanta, Ga
THE UP-TO-DATE MARKET.
I have just got in a large cold storage
and am prepared to keep all kinds of
fresh Meats from |i to 30 days. I guar
antee every pound of Meat good and
sound, no flies or tainted fMeats. I in
vite the public to come md see for them
selves. Fresh Fish, Country Produce,
Vegetables, Heavy and Fancy Groceries
and Ice for the public. Goods delivered
on time; Meats carved by experienced
men to suit the trade. Come or call
’Phone No. 60, Burnett Block.
Yours for business,
L. W. McGUINN.
Final Discharge,
Notice is hereby given that I will ap
ply to Hon. J. E. Webster, Probate Judge
for Cherokee county, S. C., at his office
at the Court House Friday, July ruth,
next at 10 o’clock a. m., fora final settle
ment and discharge as Administratrix of
the estate of W. W. Lavender, deceased.
All persons holding claims against said
estate w ill present them on or before said
date or forever be haired.
[Mrs. V. L. Lavender,
Admx. Estate of W. W. Lavender,
deceased.
Published in Gaffney, (S. C.,) Ledger
June 12, 19, 26 and July 3rd 1903,
Notice.
The stockholders of the Blacksburg Spin
ning and Knitting Mill are requested to meet
at the City Hall. Blacksburg, S C.. on Tues
day June iiOtb, at ten o’clock a. m ,to act
upon the three following propositions, con
tained in a resolution passed by the Board of
Directors on May 27th, P.tOS. to-wit: To in
crease the capital stock of said mill to?100.-
000, or a less sum; to issue 812,000 of preferred
stock divided into 120 shares of the par value
of $100 each, on which a dividend of s percent,
per annum is guaranteed; or to issue bonds
amounting to $12 000. bearing 0 per cent, in
terest secured by a mortgage on the proper
ty; time of t he payment {of which to be fixed
by ttie Board of Directors.
J. G. Hi.ack, M. 11. Mokkow.
Wm. Anderson, g. M. <T.ine.
II. A.Tripp.
I>. R Bird.
May 2!t. June 5-12-10
X. W. il A KIM N,
Directors
Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera 7and Diar
rhoea Kemeily
is everywhere recognized as the one
remedy that can always be depended
upon and that is pleasant to take. It
is especially valuable for summer
diarrhoea in children and is un
doubtedly the means of saving the
lives of a great many children each
year. For sale by Cherokee Drug Co.;
L. D. Allison, Cowpens.
—
The Secretary of the Navy has ap
proved the plans of the Board of Con
struction for the battleships Dakota
and Mississippi.
—
In teres ting to Astlinut Sufferers.
Daniel Battle, of Otterville, Iowa,
writes, “I have had asthma for three
or four years and have tried about all
the cough ana asthma cures in the
market and have received treatment
from physicians in New York and
other cities, but got very little benefit
until I tried Foley’s Honey and Tar
which gaye me immediate relief and
, I will never be without it in my
! house. I sincerely recommend it to
all.” Cherokee Drug Co.
Cost Sale
Notice to Bridge Builders.
I will be at my office at the Court House
Saturday, June 20th, at 11 o’clock a. m.,
i to let contract to build approaches to the
Owens’ Ford bridge in Gowdysville
Township.
Rights to reject any and all bids.
Contractor must give bond for the
faithful performance of his duty.
J. V. Whelchel.
6-9-21 County Supervisor.
Notice to Bridge Builders
I will be at Cole creek on road leading
from Gaffney jto pauper farm near the
! Petty place, in Limestone Township,
1 Friday, June the 19th, at 11 o’clock a.
m., to let contract to build a bridge over
Cole creek.
Plan can he seen in my oflice.
Right reserved to reject any and all
bids. j. v. Whelchel,
6-9-21 County Supervisor.
Kodol Dyspepsia Cure
Digests what you eat*
Judge Emory Speer, in an address
at the commencement at Emory Col
lege, Georgia, analyzed the motive of
Robert E. Lee.
Crna7 Over Bee*.
A man was arrested In Paris the
other day for digging a grave for him
self In the street. He said he was try
ing .to escape from the bees. He proved
to be the sixty-seven-year-old Professor
Frederic Mottln, who once wrote a
book on bees and who seemed to have
lost what was left of his mind on rend
ing Maeterlinck’s book on the same
subject
During the summer kidney irreg
ularities are often caused by exces
sive drinking or being overheated.
Attend 70 the kidneys at once by
using Foley's Kidney Cure. Chero
kee Drug Co.
The Navy Department awarded con
tracts for the three 1G.000 ton battle
ships recently authorized by Con
gress.
Chronic bronchial troubles and
summer coughs can be quickly re
lieved and cured by Foley’s Honey
and Tar. Cherokee Drug Co.
By the breaking of a levee at East
Bt. Louis, III., 11 lives and a great
amount of property were lost.
No good health unless the kidneys
are sound. Foley’s Kidney Cure
makes the kidneys right. Cherokee
Drug Co.
Ten buildings, weakened by flood,
collapsed at Kansas City and 23,000
persons are homeless.
On the first indication of kidney
trouble, stop It by taking Foley’s
Kidney Cure. Cherokee Drug Co.
W<( discontinue eaoh subscript ion promptly
til Its expiration. Ho wutcli your label and
the date and renew before ’tls too late.
BANNER 8 ALVE
th« moat booling salvo In tho world.
Having bought out
the Poag Mule Co.,
we offer the entire
line of Buggies and
Harness at and be
low cost. These
buggies are new
and up-to-date and
if you are in the
market to buy
now is the time.
Gaffney Live Stock
Company.
FOR
Up-to-Date Job Print- Things We
ing, call at the | SI.- R Ae 4.
LEDGER Office.
Gaffney, S. C. Disagree With Ue
KIDNEY DISEASES
are the most fatal of all dis
eases.
Cm C V’Q kidney cure is a
rULbl 0 Guarantied Remedy
or money refunded. Contains
remedies recognized by emi
nent physicians as the best for
Kidney and Bladder troubles*
PRICE 50c. aod $1.00.
New Painters.
We are not exactly new painters, liavlns.'
been in the business for several years, but
we are a new firm In the painting business.
Experience lias taught us that the laborer
does the work while the contractor gets the
credit and the money. We want the credit
and the money for Die work, so have formed
a co-partnership to do a general painting
business. We solicit the work of the people
of Gaffney and surrounding country, prom
ising first-class work at the lowest living
prices, guaranteeing satisfaction.
Carriage painting a specialty.
Call on or write us and we will give you
prices that will make It Interesting.
GAINES & RAMSEY,
Shop next door to Steam Laundry,
GAFFNEY, 8. C.
Because we overeat of them, tail*
fee m follows. But there’s a way to
•sot po such consequences. ▲ dose of a
good dlgestant like Kodol will relive you
atones. Your stomach Is simply loo
weak to digest what you eat That’s all
Indlfsstion is. Kodol digests ths food
without ths stomach’s aid. Thus ths
stomach rests while the bodi
ened by wholesome food. D
accessary. Kodol digests any
good food. Strengthens and Invigorates,
KoM Makes
Rloh Red
VNaand oaly bj S. 0. DsWnv 4 Oo.. OU
TasS botueeoBtaiaeSH mass ths Ms.1
OneMinuteGonghCuPO
IQ. xaue soe
dv Is strength-
Dieting is w
1 any kind ol