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VOL. VI.
Tile Tapir-
LENOIR, N. C., THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881. NO. 42.
To Advertisers.
BSfA aahedule of advertising rates will be fur
nished on Application.
Transient advertisements payable in advance; year
ly advertisements payable quarterly in advance.
Professional cards, six Unes or less, ten dollar!
per annum- -payable halt yearly in advance.
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gR'~ Advertisements discontinued before theNim
contracted for has expired, charged transient rates
I for thetRLe actually published.
WALLACE BROS.,
BROAD AND CHURCH STREETS,
STATESVILLE, N. C,
1881.
s^w^ miwBOL
We are now placing our new
spring stork in position, and will in
a few days be ready to show you a
line of merchandise that we think
is just the very ideal in character,
quality and make to suit the trade
of Western ^orth Carolina. We
do not claim superior judgment over
manufacturers; however, we have
taken the liberty to warp their ide
as in many instances, and feel assur
ed that when you examine our stock
you will frequently say this or that
“is just the tiling to a T.” The ex
tensiveness and variety of our stock
is no longer debatable ground, as it
is generally conceded that we car
ry the largest stock south of the Po-
~ tonrae. Aiycarly visit of examination
is earnestly solicited, and we will
* .‘CT the : rv^^ .
then give you some prices that will
certainly please if not surprise you.
Awaiting your pleasure, we are,
Very respectfully,
WALLACE BROS.
BRANCH OFFICES.
ASHEVILLE, N. C., - - - Patton Avenue.
NEW YORK, - - - - 187 Church Street-
BOSTON, _ - - _ 76Pearl Street’
THE JONES HOUSE,
k M. EARMIARIIT, PROPRIETBit, LENOIR, X (.
A First Class Hotel at a
First Class Summer Resort.
Coml'ortablo Rodins; Bountiful Tables; Polite Servants.
BOARD AT THE MOST REASONABLE RATES.
EVAS STRANGE REAL.
“Ob, Eva Hamlin I bow naughty in
you to talk so.”
The speaker was a young lady of
about eighteen su mmers, with golden
hair and large blue eyes, regulat
features, and—a good looking girl.
Her companion was one of those dash
ing brunettes, with regular features,
pretty, red pouting lips—one of those
impetuous, spoiled beauties. They
were standing in the “big road” that
led from the village, which we
shall call Laurence, in the State of
Minnesota.
A high fence on either side of the
road, and the barvest being on, the
farmers were busy caring for their
grain. The fields were rich in shocks
of golden wheat, rye and barley.
“Why, Ora?” answered Eva haugh
tily. ‘'Have I not the right to choose
my own associates and companions?”
“Ofbourse, you have, Eva; but this
man is almost an entire stranger.
You are risking a great deal to trust
yourself in his Company.”
“That’s just the way the people in
Laurence talk. A handsome stranger
comes to town and p&ys his respects
to me, and envious people are ready
to declare him a runaway thief.”
“That is very unkind of you, Eva,”
said Ora, with an injured look; “but
as you mistake my advice as to pro*
priety, allow me to ask if you have
given up your old beau, Albert Wil
liams?”
“Albert Williams!’ 1 and therb was
just the least bit of scorn in the an
swer of the proud beauty. “Is it pos
sible that you could think I could for
a moment care for him, when Mr,
Herkimer is around?”
^HORSES AND CONVEYANCES FURNISHED TO TRAVELERS.^
“Albert is a very excellent young
man—we know that; but Mr. Herki
mer, who would vouch for him?”
“Now, that is unkind of you, Ora !”
said Eva. “I will vouch for his being
a gentleman. Albert, as you say, is
an excellent young man, but then he
lacks style—he lacks dash. He is at
best but a prosy, thrifty farmer* Mr.
Herkimer knows all the waltzes, is
graceful, elegant, and has an urbane
air that is truly captivating.”
“My dear Eva, I fear you have per
mitted his urbanity to capture you;
you should retain the young farmer.”
“Albert Williams, the farmer—ha!
ba! ha! Do you, for a moment,
think my ambition is no higher than
a plowman? I will give him the slip
anyway while Mr. Herkimer is in
Laurence; ifl should want to call
him back to my side afterwards, it
would be no trouble. You can flirt
with Albert fhr the present, Ora,” and
with a giddy laugh the giddy girl
tripped merrily down the lane to a
farm-house she was visiting, appar
ently very happy.
Ora, who was returning to the vil
lage, paused a moment to look after
her.
“Poor, silly Eya, how can you give
up the truly noble Albert Williams,
for that foppish stranger?” she almost
unconsciously murmured.
A slight rustling of leaves and vines
that grew on the fence attracted her
attention, and the next moment a
young man with sun-burned face and
hardened hands, dressed in farmers’
garb, leaped into the road at her side.
“Oh I Mr. Williams—how you did
frighten me!” cried the beautiful
blond, starting back, while a tell-tale
blush suffused her cheek. “W here
did you come from?”
“From behind that tree, on the oth
er side of the fence, where I have been
for half an hour mending a scythe.
I was there when you and Eva Hamlin
met, and overheard every word you
both uttered.”
“Oh! Mr. Williams—how naughty
c-f you to eavesdrop that way !” cried
Ora, growing red and pale by turns.
“It was unintentional, but I thank
heaven now that I committed even
the appearance of a sin. I have found
out bow false and hollow is the heart
of Eva Hamlin, and how true and
loving is the heart of Ora Merton.
Let me tell you now, Ora, what I have
long wanted—but feared to tell: I
love you better than life: I always
loved you and always will; I love the
grass on which you tread; I l,pve the
stars that light your pathway by night
and the sun’s tays that warm you by
day. You are doubly dear to me
now, since I Lave discovered in you
a jewel but rarely found. I am rich
in this world’s goods, so far as lands
and farms are concerned ; but I have a
heart richer still to give to yen if you
will accept it.”
He paused and she Was silent. He
approached and took one little trem
bling band in his own. It was not
withdrawn.
They were plighted then and there
in the sight ofheavem and two happi
er souls never wended their way from
the lane than they on that beautiful
harvest evening.
Mr. Rod oiphus Herkimer called on
Eva on that evening; but, somehow,
she, as usual, felt uneasy in bis pres
ence, as much as she admired him,
and she felt some degree of relief
when he took bis departure* rather
earlier than usual*
It was late at night) when thefe
came a rap at Farmer Williams’ door,
He arose and opened it to find three
or four dark forms standing silent
and grim in the yard.
“Is Albert in the house?” asked
one of the men, whom the farmer at
once recognized as the sheriff.
“He is,” replied the farmer, with
misgiving.
“We want him then,” said the sher
iff.
“Great heavens! what has my son
done?” cried the astonished father.
“Nothing, Mr, Williams; you mis*
take the object of our visit* There is
to be a bank robbery to-night, and I
am gathering a posse to artest the
scoundrels.”
The farmer Was rejoiced to find
that it Was as an assistant, and not
as a criminal that his son was wanted.
Albert was hastily informed, and
dressing and arming himself, joined
the posse. They mounted their hor.
»es and stole quietly around to the
rear of the village. The sheriff ex
plained that he. had received the
startling intelligence since dark, from
a detective who had traced the out*
laws from Missouri. He, bad been
vigilant, and near a hundred men
were stationed at different places
about the village..
It was a little after midnight; the ■
moon was rising in the east, when
creeping forms might have been seen
approaching the bank building. They
came to the front door, which, they
opened and entered by meaus ef false
keys. A few moments later the cut*
ting of drills could be heard; then
a short space of time; when a dull
heavy explosion shook the air.
The signal was given by the sheriff
and his horsemen bare dawn on the
burglars. The man on guard gave
the alarm, and they sprang to their
horses and started through the town
at break-neck speed.
The inhabitants of Laurence Were
awakened by shouts, and the report
of fire arms. The chase extended far
out on the plain, when one of the rob
bers was wounded by a rifle shot and
fell, and another had his horse killed
under him.
The dismounted men were surround
ed and captured, but the others esca
ped.
“Why this one is Mr. Rodolphus
Herkimer!” exclaimed Albert, as he
disarmed the outlaw whose horse he
had killed.
“Is that the name be goes by here?”
asked the detective.
“Yes, sir,” replied Albert, “he has
been for weeks playing the gentleman
in our village.”
“And you really don’t know who
and what he is ?” asked the detective*
“No, sir,” returned Albert, “unless
he is Mr. Herkimer.”
* .“He is Cole Younger, the noted
Missouri outlaw, and this wounded
man is his brother, Bob Younger, The
scoundrels who escaped were .Jessie
and Frank James. You fellows have
been barboring a bad man.”
They concluded to harbor him a
while longer.
Poor Eva did hot recover from her
mortification at the way her strange
beau with style and dash turned out.
for a year. Before that time, Albert
Williams and Ora Merton Weromarri’
ed.
They now reside in one of the most
beautiful farm residences, are wealthy*
happy and prosperous.. Eva Is still
single, but says she doys not envy Ora
her happiness; while her strange ,
beau is serving out a term in the
Minnesota penitentiary.
THE BIGGEST SNAKE STORY.
Louisville Courier-Journal,
I consider it very unprincipled and
ill'mannered to lie, especially about
so insignificant a thing as a snake
story ; moreover, as I know it would
not be Credited, I should be witless
to attempt such a falsification. The
following can, therefore, be relied on
as a fact *
Teh years ago I lived on a farm
among the New Hampshire bills.
About a mile north of the house was
a pasture called “The Rock,” from an
immense ledge contained therein.
This was the greatest resort for miles
around during the berry season; and
many stories were afloat of incidents
and adventures with snakes, though I
had had no special encounter up to
this time. In the summer of the
year mentioned a young lady visited
us from Boston. She was about sev
enteen years of age, very attractive
and intelligent, and for the present
shall be called Kate, though that was
not her name.
One day we decided to go to “The
Rock” for some berries, but the re
mainder of the party being detained,
Kate and I started off “cross lots,”
instead of taking the usual road. We
bad reached a spot nearly two-thirds
of the way to our contemplated desti
nation, when I was startled by a ter
rific scream. You have beard girls
scream, but I’ll lay a wager you never
heard such a scream.
“There’s something crawling up my
limb,” shouted Kate, “Take it off!
Take it off! My goodness, be quick I”
. There she Was, stamping and dan
cing a lightning double shuffle and
screaming at the top of her voice.
What was I. doing, you will ask. Well,
I was standing still, completely non
plussed. What could I do ? My .gal
lantry said go to the girl’s rescue and
remove the snake, but my modesty
restrained me. You must remember
I was only a country fellow and not
used to city girls.
“O, it’s a snake! I know it's a
snake,” shouted Kate, almost distrac
ted.
“lie won’t bite you,” I managed to
exclaim.
“Well, suppose ho won’t; you don’t
think I want that nasty thing crawling
up my limbs, do yoU ? Oh ! he’s get’
ting higher!” and with this she made
a grab with both hands around the
affected member, just above the knee,
to stop his progress, arid again call for
me to help her. I know my face was
scarlet. I felt that 1 should do some
thing—but what ? How I wished I
was at home and that girls and berries
had never been thought of.
“What a man you are,” sneered
Kate.
“What can I do ?” I replied.
‘Dod” said she. “Can’t you get
hold pf him and pull him off? Where
is your gallantry ?”
Here I began to sweat. Kate’s eyes
were like sparks of flame, and her
indignation brought, me somewhat to
my senses. I approached her, my
head in a whirl; of excitement, took
hold of her clothes and shook them,
but her adversary was too well posi.
tioned to be shaken off.
“You can't get him off that way.
Do hurry, won’t you; put your hand
under my dress and pull him off; you
say Ue won’t bite!”
At this! pushed to the front, did as
I was commanded, and struck out for
the snake, though with more prudence
than celerity, until Kate screamed.
“Do be quick; I’d think you was a
snail.”
But the undertaking was not with
out difficulties. However, I sooq
managed to get a glimpse of the ras
cal, and succeeded in removing him.
It proved to be a green snake about
two feet long. She had probably
stepped on its tail, aud, in springing
up, had caught around her ankle and
crawled into Uis final position wholly
unconscious of the excitement he was
causing. As for me, yon could have
soused tile in a pool, and * wouldn't
have been wetter, I sweat so, and my
legs were so weak I could scarcely,
stand. Most girls wc/fM have fainted,
but Kate merely skid, “I should think
you never saw 1 $.gTl, |r?fore.”
We continued our way to the
“Rock,” which we were .doomed not
to ieach ; Kate beinc thoroughly pro
C^Corumuircations containing items of local or
general interest?respectfully solicited. Manusripta
intended for publication must be v- iil+en on onesido
of tiie paper, and accompanied by the name of the
writer, as a guarantee ofgood faith.
"I*; ^e-^.^ ^ :S‘£ra%^.^r.£««&^^
voked, and I ashamed of my lack of
manliness, we walked on in silence.
When within about hundred feet of
the fence surrounding the pasture, I
heard a loud hissing Bbutid, and
turning to discover its origin, received
a tremendous blow across the chest;
and in an instant found myself encir
cled by a huge rattlesnake, aud lifted
to at least twenty fe^t into the air,
where 1 was held. The pressure
round my waist by the cell of the
snake was so great you could clearly
here the bones creak.
Kate, without waiting for me to
scream and supplicate assistance, as 1
bad done IL her dilemma, pulled up a
spear of herdsgrass aud began to
tickle the shakes belly as he thus
stood perpendicular, holding me aloft.
This was more thafi bis majesty could
stand, and he rapidly unwound him
self and dropped me to t he ground;
breaking any aim in the fall. Ae
soon as I could get on my feet 1
made the must of my freedom, and
started to run for -home, forgetting all
about Kate until I heard a clear, mu
sical laugh, which recalled me again-
to my senses. I turned and found
her still tickling the snake, who had
stretched himself out full length on
the ground and was receiving the
operation with- every manifestation of
delight. I forget the excruciating
pain of my broken arm in the novelty
of the scene. Presently he gave a
sort of prolonged singing sound and
showed signs of being sleepy, gradu
ally coiling himself up- into utter
insensibility. Tickling bad the effect
of an opiate
While we, were meditating what
course to pursue, our attention was
directed toward the “Rock,” and forth
from every fissure and hole came a
multitude of similar snakes, making
directly fur the place where we were
standing. Ol’ course we thought our
last hour had curne, but were over
joyed when w« found them stretch
themselves-on the .ground after the
manner of their predecessor, evident
ly inviting usdo tickle them; The
singing sound had reached them as an
utterance of joy. Knowing a refusal
was positive death, we secured moio
straws and commenced • business.
Similar results followed the operation
and amidst our terrible position wo
could not help appreciating the ridic
ulous side affairs had taken. In the
course of an hour we bad them all
asleep. We then cut off their heads,
I throwing them in a pile by themselves.
They numbered 171, besides the big
one that attacked me, and which we
did not injure. Kate and I,then got
a rail from the fence, and putting it
through the eoil of the big snake, car
ried him home, where I put him in a
pen; so securely that he, could not get
away when bis ,nap .was over. My
arm, by this tiqie, was troubling me
intensely, but I. wanted to collect the
decapitated beads we had left in the
field as an evidence of our combat.
So we took the team and drove over
to the spot. We found the beads just
as we left them, but the snakes had
all crawled away, We brought the
heads, home, and preserved them in
alcohol, and they can be seen by any
one desirous of proving the accuracy
of the above statement. The live
snake which 1 secured I resolved to.
tame.and put his, immense strength to
j a more useful purpose than squeezing,
i the breath, out of a man’s body. I
I have every reason to be proud of my
experiment and its results. Our fam
ily was large and. the washings im
mense, but my ingenuity has reduced
the labor one half. We don’t wring
the clothes any more; They are tbor-
; oughly washed, laid carefully in a pile,
and the snake coils himself around
I them mid squeezes them dry in a jiffy
I I have refused large offers for the
| purchase of this snake from many who
I go hundreds of miles out of their
| course to see this wonderful perform*
I an co.
; When they talk about the guberna«,
i torial question in North Carolina they
‘ mean the peanut crop.
J. Madison Drake, of Elizabeth, N.,
, J., on hearing of the assassination,
cried. “Three cheers for President
Authiii!” Ou being threatened with
mobbing, he exclaimed that be had
I uttered the -words in jest, supposing
i the news from Washington to be false.
This is the author of“Fast and Loose”
in Dixie, who perambulated our
mountain fcelion durH^ the war