1 6
CHARLOTTE NEWS, AUGUST 23. 1902.
. t' t t t - 4 f (
An Interrupted Program
4-4 f f-
By E. Markele.
The afternoon sun was streaming
"brightly through the Western windows
of the top floor chapel of the new
penitentiary at P., while with fervent
and not unmusical voices the as
sembled convicts were propounding
the rhythmical query, "Shall we meet
beyond the river?" with an insistence
and significance which was later re
called by some of those present, but
which passed quite unnoticed at the
' time. In honor of th opening of the
new chapel the rules of the famous
penal institution had so far been re
laxed as to admit the presence in the
commodious organ gallery of the
wives, sweethearts and sisters of the
members of the Convicts' Aid Asso
ciation, and of the jailers as well.
To reach the chapel one had to
climb six flights of stairs, and past
half as many armed guards, who re
quired upon this occasion no "open
sessame" other than the mention of
the chairman's potent name.
The guests, with the notable excep
tion of Governor H , whose letter
of acceptance left some doubt as to
his ability to be present, had all
reached their seats at the front of the
chapel during the singing of the
hymn, of which mention has just been
made, when a carriage drove up to
the penitentiary, from which alighted
a gentleman whose , dignified bearing
hardly needed the confirmation of
identity supplied by the respectful
salutation of a couple of 'gentlemen
who awaited his coming, and were
graciously introduced by that official
to the accompanying members of his
suite.
Warden Cuyler blames himself to
this day for permitting Doorkeeper
Downes an appointee of the Gov
ernor's, by the way to take that
particular Sunday, for his day off
Speculation is idle as to what would
have been in charge of the main por
tal of the penitentiary on that mem
orable afternoon. Certainly no one
thought of accusing his alternate of
dereliction of duty in admitting, in
the guise just described, . the noted
counterfeiter Wilcoxon, whose term
of imprisonment had expired the week
preceding the removal of the prison
ers from the old to the new pen, and
who was, moreover, supposed to be
then in the Far West.
Between the spare, wiry form of
the ex-convict and the portly presence
of the chief executive of the State
.there was not less difference than be
tween their respective stations in life,
but so cleverly had the former ef
fected his make-up as to deceive, as
the sequel proved, even the very elect.
So the board with great prompt
ness and unanimity entirely exoner
ated the luckless keeper in the search
ing investigation which followed.
Still less would anyone have sus
pected Wilcoxon, whose own "term of
imprisonment had been materially
shortened through his turning State's
evidence, of any interest in, or desire
to face his unlucky and enraged pals
who were at that moment "doing
time" through his instrumentality.
Be that as it may, the ponderous
doors of the institution had barely
closed upon the affable executive and
his party, when a distinct and remark
able change became apparent in the
bearing of the entire suite.
Presenting a revolver at the head of
the astonished sentinel, a pair of
bracelets was snapped upon his
wrists and a gag inserted between his
teeth by the spurious Governor with
a noiseless dexterity that left nothing
to be desired and communicated to
the officials overhead not the slightest
intimation of his intentions. Jenks,
who was on duty at the head of the
first stairway, says he knew from the
conversation of the earlier arrivals of
the expected advent of the Governor,
and was consequently not in the least
surprised at the sound of approach
ing footsteps, and had scarcely turned
his head to look at the gentleman ad
dressed as "Governor" when the
episode at the front door was with
equal precision soundlessly repeated
and a second member of the party
took up his self-appointed task as the
turnkey's successor.
After the third and last guardian of
the upper landing had in like manner
been summarily ejected from office,
the new arrivals paused reverentlv
before the door leading into the chapel
pending the conclusion of the some
what lengthy prayer of the chaplain,
and it was not until Rev. Ebenezer
Howler had fairly started upon the
funny story with which he prefaced
his intended remarks that the gentle
' i 1 i it
men quietly enierea tne room, as
though reluctant to disturb the speak
er.
Afterward it was remarked that ex
actly half the party took the left-hand
aisle, while the remainder followed
the Governor up the opposite one
The congregation was so intent
upon the reverend gentleman's side
splitting remarks that only casual at
tention was bestowed 'upon the be
lated arrivals; otherwise it must have
appeared incomprehensible why the
visitors, instead of at once taking the
seats clearly reserved for them.
should pause half way thitherward be
fore-the chairs of the half dozen
- guards scattered about the room, as
if awaiting a signal from the Gov
ernor. .To the credit of the warden be
it said,. he alone of the entire assem
bly, with the exception of two deeply
interested convicts, "tumbled" to the
daring scheme, wis eye alone pene
trated the disguise of the supposed
executive, at whose nearer approach
Rev. Mr. Howler abruptly terminated
his remarks, while the aged and some
what near-sighted chairman hastily
arose to welcome the tardy, chief
guest of the occasion
Half way to his weapon, the war
den's hand was arrested and before
the most vigilant of the guards could
rress the emergency call, which would
have aroused half the constabulary
force of the city, an exchange of fire
nrms for handcuffs had been effected
wberebv Wilcoxon and his allies were
in rnmnleta command of the situa
tion.
little attention was
paid. b the.
t f t i t -I f
- f f
desperadoes to the guests, who to a
man' sat shaking in their shoes, too
startled to make an outcry, which at
that elevation would have been futile,
and too ignorant of the location of the
signal buttons to render efficient aid,
had not the brandished revolvers of
the outlaws effectively banished any
intentions of that nature.
To the latter circumstance must
alo be attributed the inaction of the
convicts, whose sympathies were of
course overwhelmingly with the in
vaders, as evidenced by the hearti
ness with which they responded to the
leader's suggestion that they "whoop
things up with another song" whilst
his prison cronies behind the altar
curtain were decorously divesting
themselves of their prison garb and
appropriating the extra suits, which
the Governor's alias . had found ex
tremely serviceable, and the loss of
which effected a complete transforma
tkn in that gentleman's subsequent
appearance.
To cut off communication with the
outside was the work of a few mo
ments, and precious as those moments
were, the star performer, yet had time
for a few ' 'closing remarks," during
the course of which he deprecated the
necessity which compelled him in self
defense to turn the key upon the as
sembled gathering and suggested that
inasmuch as the services had but
barely begun, and were expected to
extend far beyond the hour usually
devoted to them, it behooved them to
make the best of an admittedly awk
ward situation, for which reason he
ventured the hope that the program,
unhappily interrupted by him, would
be carried out after the departure of
himself and friends as previously ar
ranged, assuring the astounded guests
and equally helpless guards that the
arrival of the relief jailers must even
tually release them from their more
or less painful predicament. Whatever
may have been the intentions of the
management regarding the closing
services, certain it is that from the
moment that Wilcoxon and his neatly
dressed quondam pals smilingly with
drew, and the barred chapel door ren
dered convict, custodian and caller
.alike prisoners, the convicts took com
plete and undisturbed possession of
the exercises.
The closed windows alone prevent
ed the mingled strain of ragtime melo
dies and burlesque speeches from be
ing wafted streetwards, to the con
sternation of the neighborhood.
To avoid attracting attention, Wil
coxon and his two cronies quitted the
building alone, leaving the rest of the
party to follow at their pleasure. Ten
minutes later thanks to the wigs and
other accessories in the waiting car
riage an Hebraic-looking drummer
alighted therefrom the Grand Station
just in time to catch the Florida
Limited, for which his ticket had
been previously purchased; his com
panion, a venerable gentleman whose
flowing beard lent a truly patriarchal
cast to his countenance, took tho
Northern Express five minutes later.
The third member of the party is be
lieved to have caught an outgoing
steamer at the nearest pier. All three
have thus far successfully eluded pur
suit. The identity of the other mem
bers of the party, the. last of whom
had left the penitentiary fully an hour
before the startling condition of " af
fairs was discovered, has never been
disclosed.
IN A GIANT AUTOMOBILE.
How the Prohibition Spellbinders Are
Going to Tour Minnesota.
A giant automobile, with accommo
dations for a number of "spellbind
ers, a male quartet, anci a orass
band, will tour the tate of Minnesota
during the approaching State cam
paign. It has been drafted into ser
vice by the State central committee
of the Prohibition party.
It is their belief that the horseless
wagon will "give them the ears" of
ten times the number of voters they
could hope' to reach by the old
method of holding meetings in halls
and opera houses, and that it will en
able their candidates to much more
thoroughly cover the territory com
prising their several constituencies
The automobile has four seats, each
wide enough to accommodate three
persons. On one side, between the
wheels, is a small platform for the
speaker.
Tl e machine is fitted with a twenty
eight horse-power gasoline engine, and
with wide, solid rubber traction tires
especially adapted to carry the auto
over almost any condition of road. It
will maintain a speed of from ten to
twelve miles an hour on average coun
try roads, and is guaranteed to carry
its big load up a 40 cent, grade.
The plan of the "cold water people"'
is to put the machine at work at the
State fair at Minneapolis in Septem
ber, and immediately after to start on
a tour-of the State. The candidate for
governor on the Prohibition ticket,
Charles Scanlon, will be with the com
pany most of the time. Towns to be
visited will be posted with announce
ments of the coming of the vehicle.
The campaigners will roll into the
town as near schedule time as pos
sible, take a turn around two or
three blocks to the blare of their,
brass band, swing up on the buiest
corner, and foist their Prohibition
oratory on the voters.
An Idea for Weddings.
Of course, the groom must give lis
ushers some small souvenir of his wed
ding. This has been the custom for
years and years, and many changes
have been rung on scarf-pins, cuff-buttons,
etc. Nothing so original has been
heard of "in a twelve-month" as a
groom giving his ushers gold buttons
with their initials engraved on them.
The very swagger thing is to wear
white pique or duck waistcotts for wed
dings, the gold initial buttons making
an excellent "set off" for them. The
buttons aret about the size of a quarter
of a dollar, and the initial is deeply
cut. September Woman's Home Com
1 panion
... , 4 -
SEABOARD MAKING MONEY.
The Consolidation Results In Increas
ing Operating Efficiency.
The Richmond Dispatch of yester
day says:
The figures as reported covering the
operations of the Seaboard Air Line
Company for the fiscal year ending
June, 1902, bear out the predictions,
which have been made that the con
solidation of a number bf small lines
into one large system would result in
increasing operating (efficiency. Im
mediately after the various properties
were turned overvto the new company
and the preliminary figures covering
the earnings by months were reported,"
the management was criticised and
the claim was freely made that main
tenance was sacrificed net earnings
might be increased.
Comparative Figures.
The figures for the year ending
1902 compared with the previous year,
are as follows:
1902. . 1901.
Gross earnings. $11,579,815 $10,929,050
Expenses and
taxes..' 8,144,219 8,120,861
Net earnings . .$3,435,576 $2,808,190
Gross earnings increased $8,858, and
net earnings increased $626,906 over
the preceding year.
For 1901 the surplus for charges
was $329,659, which was equal to l.G
per cent, on the. preferred stock; add
ing to this surplus the increase as
shown for the year just passed gives
a surplus of $956,565, which is equal
to 4.8 per cent, on the preferred stock.
The amount of increase in surplus
is just about equal to the amount of
increase in gross earnings,, so the
management succeeded in handling a
larger traffic without increasing ex
pense over the preceding year. As a
general proposition, this would be im
possible and still maintain the in
tegrity of the plant.
Disproportionate Figures.
It is a fact which cannot be got
awav from that the cost of handling
traffic is 'or should be exactly propor
tionate to the amount of traffic. But
this rule, like all other rules, has ex
ceptions, or perhaps is capable of ex
planation. To prove that it should cost
more to have a certain additional
amount of traffic, it must, first be
proved that the smaller, amount was
handled with economy. The present
Rpabonrd Air Line svstem is com
posed of a number of comparatively
short lines, which, prior to the consoli
dation, served only local territory, and
the properties were operated only
with a view of handling such local
traffic. After consolidation "conditions
were changed, through service was
established and through business de
veloped; traffic originating, for in
stance on. a Southern division, be
came, after connecting links were
completed and in operation, through
traffic of a Northern division. The
management was enabled, to load
trains heavier and so get better ser
vice out of the locomotives.
Has Established Itself.
As a measure of comparative effi
ciency of, the operations of one, prop
erty from year to year, it is a good
guide, but ever here it must oe usea
with a careful knowledge and consid
eration of changed conditions.
The Seaboard system has estab
lished itself and has demonstrated
that its financial organization was
made on a; sound basis and With a
caieful consideration on the traffic
which would offer. The proposed ex
tension to Birmingham will furnish
it with an entirely new class of traffic
ill add to its general traffic
strength from a stragetic standpoint
the earnings of
the line.
THINGS FOUND IN STONE.
All Sorts of Animals Have Been Dis
covered in Fossil Formations.
Not only eggs, but birds, too, have
teen found entombed in stone. One ot
the greatest treasures in the National
Museum at Berlin is a slab of white
lithographic slate in whicn is t, im
bedded the complete skeleton of an ex
traordinary bird called "archacp
teryx." As this is the oldest bird in
the earth's history yet fomd by geolo
gists, great significance is attached
to the many peculiarities noticeable
i nthe skeleton.
Another astonishing discovery made
by those who search for things m
stone is that sea serpents were at one
time very common in all our oceans.
These pythonomorphs, as they are
called were genuine sea serpents, and
had long, snake like bodies, with fore
limbs modified into flat paddles, like
a dolphin's. Uncanny brutes they must
have been, for they actually attained
the length of sixty feet in some cases,
and were undoubtedly very rapid
swimmers. Their skulls and jaws were
particularly massive, and their vo
racious habits must have made the in
a veritable terror to all their marine
contemporaries. 1
But these are things which are not
met with everv day, and which a per
son with a little leisure and a hammer
is not likely to find in every quarry.
HoweveV, there are many things of
great interest to be found in stone al
most anywhere if people care to look
for them.
Fossil fish, for example, are exceed
ingly abundant in tome beds of rock.
Still commoner fossils, met with al
most anvwhere,. are the shells of mol
lusks of "different kinds. Most of them
differ very little in general appearance
from the sea shells cne finds along
any piiore at the present day. Others,
again belong to mollusks which are
no longer represented in our seas.
Always Keep Your Word.
If you promise the children any
thing, reward or punishment, keep
your word. The little wondering eyes
and the little busy brains are always
"sizing people up." Mine sized me up,
and soon found out, to quote one
whose words should never be forgot
ten, that I would fight it out on that
line' if it took all summer, so they con
cluded to yield, and gave me very lit
tle trouble after they had once learned
their lesson. If one threatens and does
not perform, the conflicts between the
wills of parent and child occur daily,
and life becomes one continual war
fare. The parent's nervous system is
ruined and the child's confidence in
the parent's truthfulness is gone.
Caroyln Mayhew Speake in Good
m i Housekeeping,
I
BOGUS SPANISH FORTUNES
(Continued From Page Nine.)
want," he wrote back. "Please explain
more fully what part in tnis anair x uu
to play. If you really need money
please say so."
On the afternoon, of tne aay ne pubt-
ed this letter a bulky envelope iroiu
Spain arrived in South Boston. It was
covered with stamps ' and registered.
Within were two imposing legal docu
ments signed and sworn to before a
notary in Madrid. One was a copy of
the last will and testament of Luis
Rodreguez Walsh and the other the
appointment as guardian of the beauti
ful Mary. ;
; Both papers were well plastered with
stamps L and bore seals and signatures
enough to impress anyone, and more
than that, throughout both documents
the name of Mr. Walsh appeared at
various, intervals inscribed in gold
gothic letters and in each .case he was
mentioned as Don James Walsh.
Accompaning these alleged court pa
pers were clippings from Madrid news
papers ; detailing the death of Senor
Don Luis Rodreguz Walsh, who was
committed to jail for striking an offi
cer and a long article told of his fune
ral procession. r
Translations of the documents and
alleged newspaper clippings were in
closed in order that Mr. Walsh might
not be put to the trouble of having
them changed into English.
"It will now be only necessary for
you to send the hioney for the payment
of the processes and for the expenses
of your ward to America," wrote the
Rev. Pascual Martinez, "and we will
start at once for your home with the
baggage which poor Mr. Luis for some
reason seemed most anxious that you
should have.
"I have" been able to secure an ex
tension of time from the authorities
who hold the baggage, and when you
send the money it will be released at
once."
The last communication was suppos
ed to put the finishing touch to any
doubt that Mr. Walsh may have had
and that he would not hesitate any
longer to send the much-wanted bank
notes. But Mr. Walsh is not buying any
gold bricks, and he decided to get
along without the charmed trunk, the
$500,000 and the beautiful, coquettish
Mary.
This scheme with wnich the Spanish
girl, priest and political prisoner tried
to decoy a few hundred dollars from
the pocket of Mr. Walsh is one of the
most complete and cleverly planned
bunco games ever devised.
It is being worked with success year
in and year out and although hundreds
refuse to be trapped many fall into the
r.et of the swindlers to the tune of
thousands of dollars each year.
It is said that a syndicate of Span
iards, aided by confederates in this
country and fugitives from the United
States courts, guides the destinies of
the swindlers' syndicate.
About two years ago a1 wholesale at
tempt -was made to fleece 10 men out
of money in and about Boston, but ow
mg to an exposure at that time the
planr, of the schemers in Madrid, with
their fictitious, prisoner, priest and
pretty maiden, fell to dust.
Mr. Walsh is preserving his memen
toes of old Madrid with much care.
Tt is expected that other cases of a
's:milav nature will come to light, now
that Mr. Walsh has given publicity to
his experiences. .
Watermelon Cones.
A pretty innovation has appeared
in our city in the serving of water
melons. They have not been brought
to the tabLe in those huge wedges we
know so well, but served in the dain
tiest looking red cones instead. When
piled on a bed of shaved ice these
cones look as if a deal of art and a
separate fruit cutter had gone into
their creation. In reality nothing
could be easier to do. The only in
strument used is a pewter or silver
spoon. This is firmly imbedded in the
melon pulp and turned once or twic
in a circle. A charming little cone is
the result. By grading the size of
one's spoons it is possible to produce
cones of various sizes and cut every
morsel-of the soft pulp in this form
A pyramid with the small cones on
top surrounded by shaved ice and
grape leaves is lovely. A favorite way
of serving cantaloupe at present is cut
in half and filled with vanilla ice
cream. Good Housekeeping.
oisekeepers
"If I had to give up either
my gas Range or my husband
I'd give up . Well you
know it doesn't cost much
keep a Gas Range."
to
Sold on.-. Installments.
Iff
"THE HERBS OF LIFE"
Is an old Indian Medicine and one that cures
when all others fail. This is not a relief butr
'sure cure" for Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Live;
and Kidney troubles, and Rheumatism no mat
ter of how long standing. It is a Blood Puriflei
from "Nature's Drug Store" Roots, Gums,
Barks, Leaves and Berries and is the Medicine
to doctor with, one that you really rely on to do
its work. It is inexpensive and backed up with
a guarantee to refund money if it fails, It givefe
a new appetite to the weak and strengtheds the
nerves, restores the loss of rest to the ''OIL OF
JOY," used as an external application in con
nection with the Herbs of Life is a sure cure for
Rheumatism.
We will ship to anyiddresupon rece'pt oj
25 cents thee two valuable remedies FORK
DAYS ONLY. For sale Ly all druggists. 50o.
RED SYNS INDIAN MEDICINE CO.
1036 Perm. Avenue, Baltimore, Md.
4- t
vim
WW A H
!
1 Biz-room house on South Brevard
treet.
1 7-room house South A. street
with all modern improvements.
1 4-room house North Davidson
street.
1 4-room . house on East Palmer
street.
1 4-room house on West Thirteenth
street.
1 5-room house on West Hill street.
C. McNELIS.
Insurance "
Headquarters
Insvirxnce
Headquarters
Insurance
Headquarters
C. N. G. Bvitt (& Co.
Insurance Headquarters.
ON GUTS
4l'tP:H:AM
, -MEANS
FIR.ST QUALITY
ARTISTS
ENGRAVERS
THE
Alpha Engraving Co
217 East German Street.
BALTIMORE, MD.
5O00C
Thia will interest you H your naU
falls out or if you are troubled with
itching, dryness or scurfy eruption.
Mrs. M. P. Alexander, of Concord,
N. C, says this of .
Mrs. Grier's
ReaJ Hair Restorer
"Less than a bottle of MRS. GRIHR'B
RESTORER gave my little bob
a clean, healthy scalp and plenty of
natural hair, instead of a distressing
scurfy eruption and thin, dry hair."
R A LEIGH
MAR.P LE
WO R K S
Cooper Bros., Proprietors
. Raleigh, N. C.
MONUMENTS
, Tablets Curbing
; . Vases Iron Fence -
We Pay the Freight
.Write tor our New Cata
logue.
C McNELi S
b Lyou rent
QC00CX500OO00000OOMvx
I
Baltimore Md
3 we do only first class work s
Sanddeun
SEASONABLE
GOODS
AND
SPECIALTIFs
Tanglefoot Fly Paper
t Traps, Fly Fans, Peerless !ce"
Cream Freezers, Water Coolers, 3
jApple Parers, Apple Parer
Corers and Slicers Combined 1
i-sawn i-cticis, rrutt Jar Ru,.
; tiers, Garden Hose in 25 and eg
: feet " lengths; Lawn Mowsns,
Rakes and Hoes.
v.i Some of the above articles are 1
almost absolute necessity to i
make the summer months bear-
H
it
Is -without an equal for quick i
' freezing. Will be glad to show
- anything anybody wauts to see.
JHr Wed d i i g t o n
(L Company
;29 East Trade Street.
SEE. OUR IDEAS, GET OUR PRICES
AND COMPARE.
, WE CAN SAVE YOU
MONEY
On Lithographing, Printing, Em
bossing and Blank Books, Letter
Heads, Bill Heads, Note Heads, En
velopes, Business Cards, Checks,
Drafts, Bonds, Diplomas, Show Cards,
Labels, Certificates of Stock, Adver
tising Novelties, Muslin and Oil Cloth
Signs, Views of Buildings, Factories,
etc.
T5he Eqiitatble
LitKogr Lphi rig
aLnd!Eigraving
S. W. Cor. Howard and Baltimore Sts.
: BALTIMORE, MD.
THE PEER OF THE BEST.
-v, "V
S S .a r f . .-1." U 1
. - F O U R STYLES.
MEDIANAS. . 5c.
PERFECTOS..
LONDRES GRANDE 5c-
TRABOUCOS.. .. ... ..3 for 25c.
The above cigars are made of su
perior quality Tobaccos and l'sivo
been on the market for thirty y ai . .
Today they are unexcelled.
, Sold everywhere. Ask your dc:.lc:'
for; them. Adress
C. H. Brenaman & Co.
Makers. 422 W. Lexington St.,
BALTIMORE. Ml).
Sold by R. M. BRAN NO N, Druga'
Charlotte, N. C.
Electrical Construe
tion and Repair Co
An expert at the
head of each
de partment
. v
, A ! 1 Work
r gia.r ..at n teed
B J, SWENS0N, My.
26 West Trade Strett.
Let usgive you an estimate
onycur work.
13 the oldest and onlslnessconegein .;
Leading business college south ot ' ,
river, 'rhila. Stenograpnej. h jcj
G. M.Smithdeal, President, Ricun-
able. Our
Peerless
ing its building a grand new . cv.t:binu
Udies & gentlemen. Bookkeeping