Ithe weather to-day 1
X For North Carolina: *
t Rain. j
VOL. LI. NO. 94.
Leads all Morth Carolina Dailies in News and Circulation
NATIONAL COFFERS
ARE ROIIIC OVER
A Comparison of Receipts
and Expenditures.
REDUCING PUBLIC DEBT
Surplus of $100,€00,000 largely Ex
pended in This Way.
INCREASE OF MONEY IN CIRCULATION
I According to Secretary Gage’s Statement This
■ Increase Since April 1897 is $574,-
561,277 in Amount and
$5,59 Per Capita.
(By the Associated Press )
Washington, Dec. 31.—“ The Treasury
is in a condition of exampled strength,”
said Secretary Gage today when asked to
review briefly the Treasury situation at
the close of the year.
“Only a month ago, in ray annual re
port to Congress, I reviewed these con
ditions. The figures for the last month
have been made but little change. For
the calendar year we show receipts in
excess, of the ordinary xepnditure
amounting roundly to one hundred mil
lion dollars. Such an excess might have
insulted in serious embarrassment had
not the department been able by means
of this surplus to reduc the public debt
in large amounts. Since April 1, last,
the Treasury has redeemed and can
celled United States bonds to the par
value of 158,714.700, which hav* been ap
plied to the sinking fund, and the dis
bur&e«r?nt resulting therefrom was $72,-
The available cash on hand is
therefore only about $30,000,000 larger
MMAint b-gA a. year eg?
“Comparing the situation as it is to
day with April Ist, 1807, the result is
most gratifying. On the latter day the
Treasury held money of all kinds to the
amount of $250,873,000, including $100,000,-
000 as a gold reserve, leaving, therefore,
$150,000,000 as a cash balance. Today in
money of all kinds the Treasury holds
$296,659,000, and if we deduct the $150,-
000,000 now held as a gold reserve, the
balance stands at $146000,000 or $4,000,-
000 less than it was April Ist, 1897. It
will be seen, therefore, that substantial
equilibrium has been maintained.
“There has been a very material in
crease in the volume of money in circu
lation since March 1, 1897, as well as in
the amount per capita. The volume of
money on that date, outside the Treasury
was $1,675,694,953 and the amount per
capita was $23.14. On the first of De
cember last the amount of money out
side the Treasury was $2,250,256,23d, and
the amount per capita was $28.73. The
Increase in amount, therefore, was $574,-
561.277, and the increase per capita was
$5.59.
"The amount of gold coin and gold
certificates in circulation increased from
$553,860,515 on March 1, 1897, to $914,300,-
089 on December 1, 1891. Every other
kind of money in circulation is greater
in amount now than it was on March 1,
1897, with the single exception of the
Treasury notes of the act of July 14, 1890.
The amount of these in circulation De
cember 1. 1901, was only $40,012,622, as
against $85,546621 on March 1, 1897. This
reduction in volume grows out of the
natural operation of the act of July 14,
1890, and the* act of March 14, 1900.
“The increase in the amount of na
tional bank notes in circulation during
the period in question was $132,132,731.
This increase is mainly attributable to
the act of March 14, 1900.”
NEED OF A TOBACCO MARKET.
Mr J D Turner Speaks of Opening a Ware-
Ihouse-Here.
Mr. J. D. Turner leaves next week
for Durham, after spending the holidays
at home. Mr. Durham has been on the
Durham tobacco market since August,
• and spoke very highly of that
market. Owing to the very short
crop the sales will fall short at
least one million pounds, as compared
with last year. About five million
pounds will be sold this season. He
thinks the farmers will receive fully as
much if not more for their present crop
than they realized for the 1900 crop,
owing entirely to the extremely high
prices.
Mr. Turner speaks of the great need
of a market in Raleigh and says that it
is a matter that deeply concerns our
merchants and hope they may take
some steps towards making it a sub
stantial market. He also states that
there is at least two million pounds of
tobacco grown in fifteen miles of Ral
eigh, and yet the does not sell one
pound. This speaks very badly for
Raleigh and its business men. Raleigh
should sell every pound adjacent to her
market, while Louisburg, Youngsville,
Smithfleld and Durham are selling ail
of the tobacco that should properly
come to Raleigh. This means that the
towns mentioned are drawing our trade
directly from our doors.
Afr. Turner expresses his intention of
opening a w arehouse here i next season,
I provided he ran get the V.-oper encour
agement. and the mercl/nts and other
business interests geneifUy interested.
It concerns them more anv other
Ka,ci S h should sell atHlkt two
Sr ; )0 “ nds tobacco ahSfelly,
. etch at the present prices .would I'oot j
The News and Observer.
up about tairec hundred thousand dol
lars. Mr. Turner remarked that Louis
burg, a town of probably fifteen hun
dred or two thousand inhabitants,
would sell about six hundred thousand
dollars worth of tobacco during this
season. These facts were obtained from
the president of the Bank of Louisburg.
Let Raleigh wake up and get a move on
her—or her sister towns will get her
trade.
A Visitor From the Nutmeg State.
Hickory, Dec. 27. —Hickory has had
quite an agreeable visitor this week in
the person of Hen. Chas. F- Thayer, a
prominent lawyer of Norwich. Conn.
Mr. Thayer is one of the ablest and
most aggressive leaders of the young
Democracy of the Nutmeg State.
In a strongly Republican city he w/.s
this year elected Mayor of Norwich by
a majority of cighty-one on the Demo
cratic ticket.
Mr- Thayer is also chairman of the
Democratic State Central Executive
Committee for Connecticut. During the
stress and storm to which the Demo
cratic party in the Eeastern States has
been exposed for eight years, he has
done valiant service for the cause. He
thinks that light is breaking once more
for the party in Connecticut.
Mr. Thayer believes that the Demo
crats will carry the State at the next
election and will elect their candidate
for Governor. Ex-Governor Bulkely
sterns to be a disturbing element among
Connecticut Republicans just now'.
According to the Constitution of that
State a majority vote is required to
elect, a simple plurality not being suf
ficient. A movement is on foot to amend
the Constitution so as to allow' election
by a plurality- Bulkely and bis faction
are bitterly opposed to the proposition,
hence the disturbance in the Republi
can camp.
Mr- Thayer is a man of pleasing ad
dress and a lawyer of ability,
Christmas passed »ff very quietly
here, only one disturbance taking place.
A young man was struck on the head
with a rock by a little negro boy and
seriously injured. The boy was bound
over to court. y
Mr. Summey Whiteqer, a young busi
ness man of this place, is lying' at
death’s dcor with blood ppison. His or
igimrl trerlble WffS While swelling, which
subsequently developed into his present
malady.
THE BIVEBS ARE FALLING.
Heavy Frosts Reported in Northern and Cen
tral Florida
(By the Associated Press )
Atlanta, Ga., Doc. 31.—Dispatches
from various points in Alabama and
Georgia indicate that the rivers, which
did so much damage Sunday and Monday,
have fallen. At West Point, Ga., it is
believed the crest of the flood has passed.
The bodies of three people drowned there
Sunday were found today.
At Columbus, Ga., the waters of the
Chattahoochee have fallen nearly five
feet.
The Atlanta and West Point Railroad,
which is the connecting link between
the Southern and the Louisville and
Nashville systems, in open only as far
as LaGrange, Ga., thirty miles north of
West Point. It is thought the road will
be open to the Alabama line by evening.
Freezing temperature was reported this
morning to the Florida line with heavy
frost in the northern and central por
tions of that State.
Water Bound Trains Now Running,
(By the Associated Press.)
Asheville. N. C., Dec. 31.—The flood
situation is greatly improved today
with the exception of trains on the
Murphy division of the Southern, traf
fic has been resumed. Trains from the
west, which have been water bound for
several days, came through today.
Crest of the Flood Reached,
(By the Associated Press.)
Rome, Ga.. Dec. 31.—The flood in the
Coosa river reached its height at noon
today and the gauge recorded 32 feet.
The high water has caused considerable
damage to property in this city. The
rural mails have not left Rome in two
days. Electric car service is practically
suspended.
j
The Alabama Rising.
(By the Associated Press.)
Montgomery, Ala., Doc- 31.—The Ala
bama river is rising at the rate of seven
inches an hour. The crest of the flood is
not expected until tomorrow.
All traffic of the Atlanta and West
Point railroad lias been annulled since
Sunday. The Louisville and Nashville
has succeeded iu resuming regular ser
vice.
Incendiary Barn Burning in Orange,
(Special to News and Observer.)
Hillsboro, N. C., Dec. 31.—Mr. Paisley
Kirkpatrick, one of our best farmers, who
lives about five miles west of here, had a
barn full of feed destroyed by fire before
day. The barn belonged to his son-in
law, Mr. Allen, who is florist at the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum, Raleigh, N. C., and
the barn was situated not far from Mr.
Kirkpatrick's place. Mr. Kirkpatrick was
using this barn as about one month ago
he had his own barn burnt up, losing all
his farming machinery, feed, etc., besides
three horses. Everyone is sure that it
is an incendiary and we hear steps have
b«cn taken towards the arrest of some
one.
We will be deprived of the Orange Coun
ty Observer this week, as the editor. Mr.
Joseph Harris, and family, are spending
the holidays at Winston-Salem, N. C.,
with his brother.
RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA, TUSKDAY MORNING, JANUARY 1. 1902.
Kitchener’s Weekly Repett
\
(By the Associated Press.)
London, Dec. 31.—Lord Kitchener, under
date of Johannesburg, December 30,
sends a weekly budget showing that
since December 23, thirty- ftye •oers
have been killed, five wounded, 237 taken
prisonrs, and 51 surrendered. These,
says the commander-in-chief, do not in
clude De Wet’s losses in his attacks on
Dargell and Firman, when it is reliably
estimated that fifty were killed and fifty
wounded.
DeWet is still in the vicinity of Lan
berg. >Coloncl Spence and Colonel
Plumcr came in contact December 28th,
with Britz's commando and tdok 27 pris
oners. General Bruce Hamilton came in
touch with Grobelan's comjpando, near
Marydale, December 23. He killed four
Boers and captured 27.
REIMS ' FROM *
AlO MAR'S PISTOL
Accidentally Kills a Girl,Then
Tries to Exterminate His
Famiiy.
(By the Associated Press.)
Turner’s Falls, Mass., Dec- 31.—Louis
Bitzer, a jeweler of this place, todMf'
shot five persons, two of whom, Miss 4
Ida Columbe and Bitzer’s five year old
son, are dead- His other victims were
his wife, Christina, and his two daugh
ters, Annie, about 16 years of age, ami
j Carrie, 12 years old. It is thought they*
will not die. There is evidence that it
was Bitzer’s purpose also to take his
own life, bu< hitr arrest appar
ently presented him from carrying out
his pupflose. He is about 35 years of
age.
Frj/rn a note left in his store by Bitzer,
it appeared that Avhile he was cleaning
hid revolver the weapon discharged ac
cidentally and hit Miss Columbe in the
head, killing her instantly. Overcome
by the situation, Bitzer apparently
rushed to his home hatless and wild
with excitement and began the work of
exterminating his family. • • ,
The little boy, ill in the bed with the
measles, was shot and killed.
The 16 year old daughter. Annie, was
wounded through the left hand and in
the ear. The 12 year old daughter. Car
rie, was shot through the neck. Mrs.
Bitzer was hit in the face, the bullet
passing through the nose.
The sound of the shotsh brough neigh
bors into the house and Bitzer was ar
rested.
The police believe that Bitzer is in
sane. The note which they found in his
store after the affair was almost an ip
coherent jumble of words. After tell
ing of the shooting of Miss Columbe
Bitzer wrote that he had determined to
go to his home and end the lives of his
wive and children and his own- He
asked that at his funeral the hymii
“Nearer My God to Thee” be sung.
He wished that his property should be
given to bis brother and his aged mother
and ended the letter with an expression
J to the effect that “God would not blame
1 a man for doing what he had done.”
| Substantially the same story was told
by Bitzer after his arrest.
FLOOD STARES FIRE
Richmond Kiremen Wade to
Fight Flames,
Fulton and Lower Main Streets Inundated.
Lime Starts the Blaze Which is Soon
Extinguished.
(By the Associated Press.)
Richmond. Dec. 31.—Flood, fire and
, general excitement made up Richmond's
position today. The water in James
river rose 23% feet, within four feet of
the level of the great freshet of 1877.
Low'er Main street and a greater part of
Fulton, the extreme eastern section of
the city, Avere flooded. When the
freshet Avas near its height, fire, caused
by the Avaters coming in contact with
lime, broke out in the plant of Warner.
Moore & Co., millers and feed supply
men.
The property is situated on the creeks
of the flooded district and at one time
it seemed inevitable that it Avould be
swept out. But a change of Avind and
the splendid Avork of the fire depart
ment averted that. The hose were
carried over a line of partially sub
merged coal cars and buoyed on rafts
made of small boats and the firemen
fought the flames standing up to their
Avaists in Avater. The fire was confined
to the building in which it started and
the loss is only about SIO,OOO, fully in
sured-
It is estimated that, the occupants of
some two hundred small houses on this
and the Manchester sides of the river
had to vacate temporarily.
The gas works are partially under
Avater and the gas supply cut off. This
condition seriously cripples the newspa
| pers, us the metal for their linotype
j machines is heated by gas. All are
working lamps tonight. The incoming
Southern trains had to run through
. several feet of water. Bridges arc re
ported gone in various sections of the
j Slate and traffic greatly damaged,
j The Avater began to fall aboui sp. m.
i The loss by Avater in this city cannot be
estimated tonight but it Avill/R»t be
heavy, as there was time to nsovt our
• stocks. I
II IS BELIEVED IRAI
WILCOX RAD AH
ACCOMpE
1 —
This Theory Rapidly Gaining
Ground at Elizabeth
City)
Li
FACTS THAT SUPPORT IT
Your Daughter Will Appeer in Front
of Yonr House To-
Morrow.
SO SAID A LErTER TO MRS. CROPSEY
Andrew J. Cropsey Declares That One of the
Physicians Stated That Nell When
Found Had Not Been Dead
L- Over Three Days.
to News and Observer.)
Elizabeth City, N. C., Dec. 31.—1 have
just been informed by Solicitor G. W.
Ward that at Wilcox’s own request the
preliminary trial avIII dot take jilace tills
"KaOC* Be now fietj fit custody t».. rec
ommendation of the coroner’s jury and at
his own request pending the presentation
by the grand jury. The trial takes place
at the March term of court.
The feeling that he is guilty is still
strong. But the theory that there are
two men implicated is rapidly gaining
ground. A detective, sent by the New
York Journal, has bee a here working up
the case and from yesterday’s Journal
it is sgen lie hold- to the two-man
tteWy. There are many things that
lead one to helieve that he is correct.
On the fatal night Wilcox called at the
Cropsey home but did not speak to Miss
Nellie, talking however to other members
of the family. He kept continually pull
ing out his watch in a nervous way, say
ing that he promised his mother to be
home at 11 o’cloqk. At 11:15 he rose
abruptly and Avent out. After getting into
the hall he re-opened the door and said:
“Miss Nellie I would like to speak to
you a minute.”
Nell Avent out, as has been related,
just as slie was, with a slipper on one
foot. That Avas the last ever seen of the
fated girl until the river gave up its
dead.
Now the theory is that tl’.e cause of his
continually looking at his watch and the
nervousness shOAvn was that he Avas to
meet some one outside at the appointed
time. Then there is the evidence of Mr.
C Parker that Wilcox and another man
were seen talking at the gate at an early
hour in the night. Also there is the evi
dence of Captain Owens and his mate on
beard the barge of a skiff with two people
in it crossing the * river shortly after
eleven and gliding alohg under the
shadows of the bank.
Again there is the evidence of the blood
hounds that Miss Nellie was carried from
the gate to the summer house. Wilcox
is a small man and Miss Nellie weighed
over 130 pounds.
Every time the dragging of the river
would begin near where the girl is now
supposed to have been sunk there would
come reports that she was in this place
or in that, noAv supposed to be usually
the work of a skilled accomplice. The
boat v/hich must have been used to trans
port the girl to the middle of the river
Avas moved some distance down and it
needed help to bring it, up and replace it
so that the work could be speedily done
■ for Wilcox to get on his journey iu good
time.
It is also thought that he body Avas
anchored down but cut loose n the night
before it Avas discovered. A reputable
gentleman showed me this ewening the
copy of an anonymous letter received by
Mrs. Cropsey on the night before Nell’s
body arose which said: “Your daughter
will appear in front of your house to
morrow.” An electrician had arrived Avith
an apparatus for searching the bottom of
the river and it is believed that the
guilty parties cut the body aloose at
this juncture to uphold the suicide the
ory.
Why they should write the letter no
one can imagine unless it was to make
them look for the body on the surface
4 rather than search the bottom. The
proper authorities are in possession of
other facts that can not now be given
to the public, it is understood. Some sen
rations are likely to be sprung before this
affair is over with. However, it it; not
believed that Wilcox Avill have anything
to say tomorrow. The New' York World
has had a man here for some days, but
he will leave tomorrow.
H. A. CHAPPELL.
HAD BEEN DEAD BUT THREE DATS.
Startling Statement by a Physician Repeated
by Lawyor Cropsey.
Lawyer Andrew G. Cropsey, says a re
porter of the Virginian-Pilot, who inter
viewed him on his arrival in Norfolk Avith
the remains of his niece, is a large, fine
looking man. rugged in appearance, and
in his eyes could be seen traces of deep
sorrow mingled with grim determination
to strain every nerve in the prosecution
of James Wilcox, whom he firmly be
lieves guilty of the murder.
“Lißlc Nell did not drown
Die said. ‘‘When her body was fojfl
the knees were draAvn up just as they
collapsed beneath her Aveight when the
blow on her tehiple killed her. Drowned
people are net found like that, and'
drowned women do not float face down-
Avards.
“The clothes she Avore are now going
to be thoroughly examined.
“Wilcox has a chain of circumstantial
evidence woA’en around him already Avhich
I think is strong enough to convict him;
and there is more yet to be told.
“I Avill be at the trial as one of the
prosecuting attorneys and I will push
ihe ease against him.
“My brother is nearly distracted. All
last night I could hear his sobs as he
walked the floor. His wife is in a pitia-i
ble condition.”
“Do you think the body was in the
river since the 20th of November?” one
of the reporters asked him.
“That is hard to say,” he replied.
“Some do. some dent, while others think
it was buried in the mud. One of the
doctors stated itliat life had been ex
tinct only three days when it Avas found.
, “Wilcox has had a close shave. A mob
of two or three hundred men from Cam
den county started to come to Elizabeth
City after him, but my brother’s request
kept them away.”
HEARING EXPECTED TODAY
An Earlier Report Than the Above From Eliz
abeth City
(By the Associated Press.)
Elizabeth City, N. C., Dec. 31. James
Wilcox, who is held in connection with
the death of Miss Ella Cropsey, will be
given a preliminary hearing tomorrow
before five justices. The Citizens’ Com
mittee of Five in investigating a possible
clue to the. cause of Miss Cropsey’s death
will present evidence at the hearing to
morrow. Wilcox is still confined within
the jail here. Popular sentiment is A'ery
strong against him, but time has alevia
the feeling somewhat ani the talk 1
of lynching b. , a. in otlier,
avlio is in delicate health, is sa\;,io be
in a serious condition caused by the
picion cast upon her son.
COMMITTED TO THE GRAVE-
Five Hundred People Present. Nell s Ccffin
Covered With Flowers
(By the Associated Press.)
New York, Dec. 31, —The body of Nell
Cropsey arrived here today from Elira--
beth City, N. C., with the body was An
drew G. Cropgey, of Brooklyn, uncle of
the dead girl. The casket Avas removed
from the train to a hoarse and taken to
the new Utrecht cemetery, Brooklyn, for
interment.
There were about 500 persons present
at the committal service, including rela
tives of the dead girl and a number of
pupils from the public school which she
formerly attended. The casket was com
pletely covered Avith flowers.
SCHLEY COMING SOUrH.
Will Spend Ten Days at Savannah the Guest
of General Gordon.
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Dec. 31.—Admiral Schley
left here this afternoon for Baltimore to
pay a long deferred visit to his sister.
He will return on Thursday to act its hon
orary pall-bearer at the funeral of the
late Rear Admiral Roe.
On January Bth Admiral Schley will
go to Savannah, Ga., for a ten-days’
visit with General William B. Gordon. On
the 25th, 26th and 27th of January he will
be the guest of the Hamilton Club pf Chi
cago. January 29th and 30th he will visit
Louisville, as the guest of the Board of
Trade and the Knights Templar of that
city; February 1,2, 3, he will be in Nash
ville, as the guest of the Board of Trade
and Knights Templars. He will visit
Knoxville, on February sth and 6th as
the guest of the city. The Memphis trip
has been arranged finally for the last
wee of April.
It
THE NEGRO EXHIBIT.
This Will Be a Great Day for the Ne
groes at Charleston.
(By the Associated Press.)
Charleston, S. C., Dec. 31.—New Year's
Day at the exposition will bo largely
monopolized by the' colored people. The
negro building will be formally opened
and addresses will be delivered in the au
ditorium building by prominent colored
men. Phesident Thomas E. Miller, of the
South Carolina Industrial and Mechanical
College, at Orangeburg, will deliver the
chief address of the day. Dr. Crum, of
this city, will make the address, deliver
ing the negro building to the Board of
Exposition Directors.
The exhibits frpm the Knoxville Normal
College and from the State colored col
lege and Clafiin University, both at
Orangeburg, are large and comprehensive.
The exhibits from Tuskege Institute
were carefully selected by President
Booker Washington and among them are
many paintings, crayons, sketches, studies
in water colors which display talent and
taste.
There is on exhibition a rapid fire ma
chine gun invented by a negro named
Burkins. It is an interesting piece of
machinery. The gun is operated by elec
tricity and fires fourteen shells per min
ute. The gun has been patented in the
United States, Franco, Italy, Spain, Ger
many and other countries.
After the formal exercises are conclud
ed (die colored people will adjourn to the
Midway where an elaborate amusement
program will be carried out. All of the
Midway shows will re-open.
The Ohio Legislature, which elects the
successor of Senator Forakcr. convenes
here next Monday. The party caucuses
to nominate candidates for presiding offi
cers and other positions in both branches
of the General Assembly will be held next
Saturday night, as there is no opposition
to the re-election of Foraker the Sena
torial question for this session is set
tled, but there is a very hitter contest
Ln progress bearing on the re-election of
fcenator liunnu two years hence,
SUDDEN DEATH OF 8 S SPIER.
An Old Citizrn of Goldsboro Expires of Heart
Disease.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Goldsboro. N. C. f Dec. 31.—The entire
community was shocked this morning to
learn of the suddea death of Mr. S. S.
Spi?r, one of Goldsboro’s oldest, as well
as most respected citizens.
|, While walking along the street in ap
parent perfect health, he was stricken by
the hand of death without a moment’s
warning. Heart disease is supposed to
be the cause of his death.
leaves a devoted Avife and throe
hhUdrcn, two daughters, Misses Sadie
and Etta, and Aaron Ward, of New York.
The sympathy of the entire community
goes out to the bereaved ones.
The Board of Aldermen met in special
session this afternoon to consider recom
mending a renewal of license to dealers
in the He.ifdr business.
Mayor Hood and Mr. D. J. Thurston,
have formed a law co-partnership and
will occupy the office of S. W. Isler, on
Walnut street, in front of the court
house. Mr. Thurston completed his law
course in 1898, at Wake Forest, and se
cured his license the same year.
He has been cashier of the Southern
Railway Company quite a while here,
and has made many friends. He ie a
promising young man.
BMATHERS MAD IN COURT ROOM
Uncomplimentary Remarks Passed Between
Him and Attorney A. S- Bernard
(Charlotte Observer.)
Asheville, Dec. 30.—“ Yes, and I say you
you are no part of a gentleman.” This
drastic declaration was made by George ;
H. Smathcrß to A. S. Barnard, while the !
evidence aLis being heard by Judge Fred, j
Mcore at chambers this afternoon Avith I
reference to the petition which has been j
submitted by J. G. Merrimon, asking for
trie removal of Mr. Smathers as receiver
of the Western Carolina Bank. Barnard,
attorney for the petitioner, expressed
the oninwn that it was unnecessary to
read a certain neper containing the an
swer of Smathers tty a demurrer that the
plaintiff had made to- prtain evidence.
Smathers .•-•aid the had away
of admitting things when not
want them read and impressed
mind of the court. Barnard
this remark as uncalled for and ungen
gentlemanly. It Avas theh that tsmatbers
excitedly made the retort quoted. The
verbal tilt occasioned some commotion
in the court room, but nothing more se
rious followed.
DELAYS IN MAIL SERVICE.
Caused by Floods in the South. Traffic on Bev
eral Alabama Lines Suspended.
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington; Dec- 31.—The floods in
the South ha\*c caused serious delays
in the mail service betivcen the East
and the Southwest, as Avell as locally in
the affected regions. Local trains were
stopped between Atlanta and West
Point, Ga., but the service between
these points Avas resumed today, ac
cording to dispatches received at the
Postoli'ice Department. The line south
of West Point, running to Montgomery
and Mobile, is broken, interfering with
the through train service betAveen East
ern cities and New Orleans and the
Southwest. All Texas and Mexico mails
are being dispatched from the East \-ia
St. Louis instead of NeAV Orleans. Tfler>
are numerous suspensions of traffic on
interior lines in Alabama. Mails for
New Orleans are being forwarded via
Birmingham and the Alabama Great
Southern road, requiring a long detour
and consequent delay of twelve hours
or more, in the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad wreck near Lynchburg Sunday
night there were twelve pouches and
tAvcnty-rtve sacks of mail reported lost,
but advices to the Postoffice Depart
ment today report that part of these;
have been recovered. None of the
pouches or sacks were full.
H. and B. Beer’s Market Letter.
, New Orleans, La., Dec. 31. —The con
tinuance of very large receipts occasion
ed the easiness in Liverpool, and our
market, in sympathy opened, 6 to 7
points lower, improving 7 to 8 points
subsequently in anticipation of a mark
ed falling off in the movement after,
January first easing off, later closing at
a net loss of 1 point on the day. Port
receipts for the four days are 11,000 in
excels of last week, 91,000 over last year
and show an increase of 125,000 over
,year before last. The semi-weekly in
terior town receipts are estimated at
37.000, Avhich is 18,000 in excess of last
year and 38,000 over year before last.
It can be readily seen that the port and
interior receipts are both on u heavy
scale, vet it is expected that the recent
inclement weather will cause a prpendi
'cular decrease after the New Year. If,
however, the amount marketed equals
last year’s from now out it will indicate
a crop of 10,400,000 or over; therefore
conservative operators arc becoming
shakey on the short crop views; senti
ment, though,, is bullish and with any
encouraging feature the probability is
values will be maintained, h exchange
will be closed tomorrow, and there will
be no trading on the curb. \V wish you
all a happy and prosperous New Year.
H. A B. BEER.
SPLIT HIS HEAD WITH BHOVEL.
One Negro Oysternum Kills Another. The
Murderer Arrested.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Morel; >ad City, N. C., Dec. 81.— U
Swans Quarter today two negroes, resi
dents ol Beaufort, Joe Joyner and Ellis
Baxter, engaged in the oyster traffic, had
a difficult/ on Capt. Harry Hell’s boat.
Joyner’s head was split opeu by Baxter
with a shovel. Baxter was taken into
custody.
♦4444+4*444* 444444444^
t THE WEATHER TO-DAvJ*
X For Raleigh:
| Rain.
- ■. "On'
PBH’K ’ V, i
WILL SET AIH
OH MUO-TIMES
And Give a Guarantee to
Hatch Out Mud Turtles.
CORN CRACKERS LETTER
Gave Notoritey to Amos Owens and
Cherry Mountain.
BRONGO MEN USED ITIO ROB “SUCKERS”
“Corn Cracker” Pays His Respect to tilerary
Pirates and Tel*s How Ames Owens
and Cherry Mountain Be
came Famous.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Cherry Mountain, N. C. P Dec. 30.—the
low price of cotton and the short yield
has caused many of our merchants to
assign. In proof of the fact that Fhineas
T. Barnum “spoke a parable/' as the
mountain folks say, the collapse of the
Cherry Mountain Swindling Association
verifies his observation that people enjoy
being humbugged. Fifteen years ago, no
body except a few hV and she hoodlums
that live near the now historic spot and
went there to fight, drink, dance and ca
rouse, knew there was such a place as
' Cherry Mountain. Nobody but the same jmA
gang and the revenue officers knew
was such a tn ing as Amos o\vens^^*||
Mi.mi that time, 1 commencejMtJ
him up in the papers of Cbj|^
It'ii i ' "d ' .unities. At tijslil
' votl,li '' s
" m-evaUmt
-' -i to
:. ■ 11 ■n i. 1 4/
I I'l.l *
I >)' I 1. " \ ' ;
n * ! i" ii-is spot
the Amos Owens des
canting on the beauty and chivalry that
there did congregate. I found Amos
Owens making and selling blockade whis
key, and that he was the author of
cherry bounce, « decoction made of corn
whiskey, sugar and cherry juice. I furth
er found, that the fights, foot-races, fast
and furious fiddling and dancing, of this
spot would relegate hitherto classic and
celebrated Donnybrook Fair to eternal ob
scurity, and wrote them up just as they
existed. The matter attracted attention,
and from local became general in their
celebrity. Cherry Mountain scenes wore
published from my pen in the Chicago
Blade, Chicago World, Pennsylvania Grit,
Atlanta Constitution, your columns, and
elsewhere. The papers of this State and
Georgia assured me they were "d—d
good,’ but other papers came down with
1 checks. For some five years, finnncl
mouthed and sorrel-topped “reporters"
have paraphrased my articles, and, In
some instances, stole them bodily, for
this they were paid and well paid.
Two articles were stolen bodily from my
pen, published in the New York Sun, and
afterward, copied in the Shelby Aurora.
This gave Col. Amos Owens and his
n ounmin great notoriety, and while liter
ary pirates were stealing the products of
my pen and brain, a set of bunco-steerera^^_
. rgani/.ed the “Amos Owens Cherry ComJA
1 any." The papers that had got my
ary productions for nothing, publish nap
burning “advs." for which they were paijH|
with ill-gotten gains. Young ladies wnfl
employ.-*! at S2O per month to do writiiMl
at home. Black-heart cherry trees
sold everywhere as "Cherry
sprouts’’ that never saw Cherry
and never will.
The swindler-in-chief of the nefarious
enterprise, even sent to our place, and
(Hig up little red May cherry trees ami
sold them for mountain sprouts. To begin
with, this famous black-heart cherry is
indigenous to Cherry Mountain and wifi
no more bear anywhere else than a Flor
ida orange will grow in Greenland.
I was aware of this and told some
people so, but they treated me with about
the same consideration with which I have
Non treated by the North Carolina press.
Now, my message to all the verdant
suckers who have lost money, in the legal
tender with which I have been paid for
l,ringing Cherry Mountain into promi
nence, “D-d good."
If somebody who has bought a black
heart from Cherry Mountain" will show
me a black heart cherry growing on one
I’ll set a hen on mud-trestles and hatch
• ut alligators.
CORN CRACK Bit.
RECEIVERS FOR IRON BEIT- "’WD
Judge Simonton Appoints James Isrry and
t. B. Jacobs
(By the Associated I’ress.^H
Roanoke, Dec. 31. —At the suiM
\v. (iw.vim. or Huntington. W-j R-g
, iron 8.-li Building and Doan Aj|j
| h.t placed in the
b.v deem*
"M "in Foiled St a ( <JgH
Th Ini! was filed oiU«| *'
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