Newspapers / The News & Observer … / Oct. 27, 1905, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
j TIIE WEATHER TO-DAY. J ♦ For (lip State. * j tmiiii ;^;. [ , i Volume LVIII. No 41. Leads ail Forth Carolina Bailies in Mews and (Circulation OUT OF THE GLOOM FLASHES LIBERTY Laws Granting Practical Freedom of the Press and of Speech to be Promulgated Forthwith. WITTE IS THE SAVIOR The Czar Stands Aghast Before This Stateman's Revelations of the Wrongs and Miseries of the People. He Cries Out That He is Weary and Would Fly, But Witte Answers That Not Even a Republic Can Now Save Russia From Anarchy. Abrogate the Autocratic Power and Grant a Con stitution, He Demands, and the Czar Bows Assent. Meanwhile All Russia is Shaken by the Upheaval of Rev olutionary Forces. (By tho Associated Press.) St. Petersburg’, Oct. 26.— As 11 it- re sult of a series of special ministerial councils under the presidency of Count Witte, held to adopt measures to deal «i(li die situation the new na tional assembly law and laws granting practical freedom of the press and of speech anti meeting will be promul gated forthwith. Upon tho promptory demand of Prince Hilkoff, the Minister of Rail roads, tho budget covering the remun eration cf railrtad employes will he revised to meet the promises made last spring. Unless this was done the Prince announced that he would re sign. Count Witte even in advance of the promulgation of his formal ap pointment as premier completely dominates the situation. Interesting details have been learn ed tjy tlm Associated Press regarding Count Witte’s interview with Emper or Nicholas last week, at which it was agreed that the time had come to limit the autocratic power and give the people a real share in the govern ment of the empire. The Emperor asked Count Witte to speak frankly and after listening to tiv statesman’s exposure ot the situa tion, ho appeared to be utterly un nerved by the deplorable state of af fairs and cried out that he was weary of th** struggle, and felt like leaving all and fleeing to Burmstadt; hence probably the origin of the report that the Emperor was going abroad. Count Witte, however, told the Em peror that in his opinion not even a republic could now sa.ve Russia from anarchy. It was the Emperor’s duty to the people and the country to face the situation by meeting their wishes, namely to abrogate the autocratic power and grant a const it utic.n by creating a ministry re.sjtonslble alike to the Crown, and the representatives of the nation. The Emperor finally accepted, requesting Count Witte to draft a project which, in skeleton form, ho approved last Sunday when tiie <’or;*it agreed to accent the prem iership on condition that he could fnarrp the ministers and that they : hould report to His Majesty only through himself as head of the cabi net. PROF. MANN CRITICALLY ILL. Cast* Goods Association to Meet. Terra Cotta Factory Mav Mr terializc. (Special to News and Observer.) High Point, X. U., Oct. 26. —Prof, (’has. G. Mann, of this place, is in a critical condition from a. stroke of paralysis. Owing to his advanced age Very little hipe is entertained for his recovery. Prof. Mann is a min ing expert, and for years has been engaged in this kind of work. • Friday the North Carolina Case Workers Association meets in Greens boro. Meeting with this body will be the executive eommilte of the Nat ional Cace Workers Association. A great deal of business is expected to be gone through vvjth. A terra votta factory is being talk ed of here. UGI.Y PURI* MADE BEAUTIFUL. Glamour Cast Over Him by Vander bilt's Name as 11is Owner. (Special to News and Observer.) High Point, N. C„ Oct. 26.—High Point up to yesterday had the “hon or” of entertaining Mr. Vanderbilt’s dog for about one week. It happen ed in this way: One morning last week when the vestibule stopped here a little homely looking deg jumped off and meandered up street. A day or so afterwards a circular came to High Point, offering a reward for such a dog stoned by Mr. Vanderbilt. The dog was finally located by a colored man. The interesting part of the story is that th» dog was so common look ng that it walked the. streets a week without finding an owner, hut as 300 nas parties here learned that the canine belonged to Vanderbilt the lit tle feHow got better looking and went The Only Newspaper in North Carolina That Has Over 10,000 Subscribers - The News and Observer. up in the estimation of the citizens of High Point. But such is life. DIED AT LIOME OF NEGRESS. Mrs. Pol tic Wright Who is Said to Have a Wealthy Daughter Living in New York. (Special to News and Observer.) Richmond, Ya., oct. 26.—Mrs. Mary Wright, fifty-one years old and poor, died suddenly this morning at the home of Bette Montague, colored, on East Court street. Mrs. Wright, who has been a well known figure in Rich mond for many years, came here originally from North Carolina, where she is said to have relatives. She has a daughter in New York, who is said to be in affluent circumstances. This woman, whose name is not known here, has never made any at tempt to help her mother. The ad dress of the woman’s relatives in the Old North State, is not known here. Mrs. Wright will be buried .in Rich mond. DEATH-EDGED DAI Two People Mangled by Train Near Nebo. # A Third Struck by Another Train Dies Shortly Alter. A Fourth Caught in Machinery May Die. a Fifth Injured. (Special to News and Observer.) Asheville, N. C., Oct. 26. 1905. —Jas. Pratt and Mrs. Dan Shehan, of Ma rion. were run over by a passing tiaiii near Nebo, a station five miles from Marion, last night and instantly kllied. Few details of the accident have been received, but it is stated that those two and Mis. Pratt, wife of the victim to the accident, were walking along the track and failed to heed an on coming train. Another acounl has it that the couple were merely crossing the track when they were killed. Both bodies were horribly mangled, and it is stated that frag ments of the man’s body were scat tered along the track for some dis tance. Both Mrs. Shehan an dPyatt were elderly. Pyatt’s age was 65 years. There was another fatal accident near Marion last night w hen Horace Nichols, aged 24, the son f a prom inent McDowell county farmer, was run over by a local freight and had both legs completely severed from his body. fie die 1 at Biltmore hospital early this morning. It is said that Nichols was also walking the track when a train struck him and inflict ed the injuries that resulted in his death. He was brought to Biltmore Hospital on No. 35 last night, but was in a dying conditions when he reach ed here. Nichols passed through Asheville yesterday en route from Murphy, where he had been engaged in business, to his home. He is surviv ed by a widow and two children. Two More Injured. Robert Williams, a section hand of the Southern Railway, was also struck by an engine yesterday near Balsam, Jackson county, but his injuries, while serious, are not thought to be fatal. His nose was broken and he was otherwise painfully cut and bruised. He was taken to Waynesville for medical treatment. Earle Smith, an employe of a plan ing mill, at Marshall. Madison coun ty, was yesterday caught in the mach inery and seriously, if not fatally in jured. He was attempting to make some repairs when he was caught in the belting, carried into the machinery end horribly crushed. One leg was splintered and he sustained other se rious injuries. Frail Durham Sentenced. Information has been received here that Frail Durham, who has been on trial at Columbus, Polk county, for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Hilton, cf Try on. has been convicted of mur der in the second degree and sen tenced to the penitentiary for four teen years. An appeal was taken. Durham has been on trial ever since Thursday of last week and the ease has been a hard fought one. Durham shot and killed Hilton at Try on last March. M“ F U Mann improves. The condition of Mr. F ; U. Mann, the cousin of Superintendent .1. S. Mann who is » 1 1 at the State's Prison with smallpox, is somewhat improv ed. No other cases have developed and a strict ouarantine is enforced. Everything may not he fop h<' best, but we should try to make the oest of everything. RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY HORNING, OCTOBER 27. 1905. THE SYNOD WILL ADJOURN TODAY Dr. Moment On Sabbath and Family Religion. TO BUY MONTREAT Committee Appointed to Secure an Op tion On the Properly. Meeting On Synodical Home Missions. Orphan-® age at Bariam Springs Report ed in Fine Condition. By EDWARD L. CONN. Red Springs, N. C., Oct. 26. —The ninety-second annual Synod of North Carolina will adjourn tomorrow af ternoon, after the happiest and one of the most important meetings in its existence. The heavy work of tho Synod is over, and special committee reports will be received tomorrow morning and then the trouble of Messrs. W. B. and .i. P. Taylor, of Orange Presbytery, will be deliberated upon. The two features of today’s session were the report on “the Sabbath and Family Religion,” by Dr. Alfred li. Moment, of Raleigh, and the adoption of plans for conducting the work of the Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina. In his excellent report, which sounded a distinctive note in the Synod, Dr. Moment said, in re gard to Sabbath breaking and the dis regard of God’s house of worship: “The conduct of the prosperous class weakens the power of the Sabbath on the working class, and is, in conse quence, pernicious to the nation.” The paper read by Dr. Moment is considered the most remarkable and timely of this Synod. An Evening of .Music. Tonight the faculty of the South ern Presbyterian College and Conser vatory of Music gave a concert, com plimentary to the Synod, and the pro gramme was delightfully rendered. The ladies particij uting in the concert; were: Miss Mary Forman, suprano: Miss Johnsie Basen, violinist; Miss Elm re Sample, organist; Miss Flor ence T. Jones, Miss Caroline E. For man, Miss Mary Johnston, Miss Lida Law, Miss Grace Adams, Mrs. Linda L. Dardell, pianists- Miss Bason is a violinist of rare merit and both delighted and charmed the audience with her renditions. Af ter the entertainment the Synod was given a reception in the college halls by the young lady students, after which delicious refreshments were served by Dughi, of Raleigh. The Synod was called bo order at 9 o’clock by Moderator Watts, and the devotional exercises were conduc ted by Rev. F. M. Allen, of Mocks ville. fl'he Judiciary committe re ported on the controversy between two members of the Orange Presby tery and the Synod will take act on tomorrow. Purchase Montreat. Dr. J. R. Howerton, of Charlotte, addressed the Synod in favor of a proposition to purchase Montreat, a mountain resort 16 miles from Ashe ville. Montreat has twenty-five cot tages, is 6 miles long and a mile in width, and has a hotel valued at $17,- 500, and $20,000 worth of timber land. There is a lake and line roads, and Dr. Howerton said it could he pro cured at its purchase price, $40,000, with a cash payment of $25,000, the •pmaining $15,000 to be taken by present shareholders in stock. It was his idea to utilize Montreat as a resort for Presbyterian families, the place for holding the annual meet ing of the Synod, the location of a girl’s industrial school for the Ashe ville Presbytery. It also has a church valued at $3,000, and ip this and the hotel summer institutes and Bible schools could be held. It was to be under the control of the Synod, through a board of directors. The scheme was to pay $25,000 cash and issue 500 shares of stock at SIOO per share, and each shareholder would receive one half acre. Fifty of each one hundred odliars would In put into permanent improvements. Alter the first series have been disposed of, an issue of 500 shares of preferred stock would he made, on which no lots but dividends would be given. Dr. Howerton urged the appoint ment of a special committee to meet with Mr. Huyler, the northern owner of Montreat, and get an option on the property and secure the five hun dred stockholders. The Synod was not asked to control the property di rectly, but later to appoint a board of directors:, who would not assume any financial responsibility for tiie Synod. Rev. A. T. Graham, of Davidson College moved that the committee be appointed and the motion carried unanimously. l/.vnodical Home Missions. The popular meeting on Synodical Home Missions was presided over by Rev. R. P. Smith, of Asheville. The report showed an increased number of field workers and churches organized, two new fields opened and .detailed the specific work of this course. There was a remaining debt of $3,500. The report showed that during the pastyear $5,97 3 had been received and $5,922 disbursed. The amount of debt is due workers in the field. The report contained recom mendations for liquidating tiie debt, which called forth a sharp frensic encounter, and Dr. J. M. Wells, of Wilmington, offered substitue recom mendations which began as follows. “That the Synod reaffirm its purpose of carrying on this work, pledging new zeal, effort and liberality, but view .with sadness and alarm the debt of $3,000 which Is crippling the work, retarding Its progress and is bringing the church and the work into disre pute and disrespect, and we regard the lifting of the debt at once as ab solutely necessary.” Dr. Wells said this debt brought discredit upon the Presbyterian church and the name of Christ, and declared the honor of the church was at stake. He said the Synod had been forced to a crisis. Dr. W. D. Morton said that In view of the importance of the work, Divine help should be sought, and he called upon the venerable Dr. FL A. Hill to lead the Synod in prayer. Dr. Hill prayed earnestly and with deep fervor. Dr. R. F. Campbell, of Asheville, moved that a special committee be appointed on Synodical home mis sions to amalgamate the two sets of recommendations and the motion car ried. Dr. Wells was appointed chair man of the new committee. President F. P. Vena Die, of the University of'North Carolina, a dele gate to tho Synod, stated that it had been understood by his church that at last year’s meeting a resolution was adopted appropriating SI,OOO to the Chapel Hill church upon condi tion that the Hill raise SSOO for the (Continued on Page Five.) FIRST FOR WEST Life Insurance Company in Asheville. The Imperial Mutual Life and Health Organized in That City Yester day. Gay Green is Elected President. (Special to News and Observer.) Asheville, N. ('.. Oct. 26. —At a meeting of the incorporators here this morning, the Imperial Mutual Life and Health Insurance Company of Asheville, the first insurance com pany ever incorporated to do business iii Western North Carolina, was or ganizer! and officers and directors were chosen. This company is similar in organization and design to the Metro politan Life ;!»(,*<• Company of New York, the Life Insurance Com pany of New York and other indus trial companies. The company will M(> a mutual insurance business and will issue policies on the industrial plan providing for the payment of benefit in case of death, sickness or disability. The incorporators of this company are representative Asheville business men. and the company is strongly backed and will d f > business on a large scale. The home office will he in this city. Ten experienced solicitors will be put in the field at once. The following officers were elected: President, Gay Green: first vice-presi lent. J. N. Jarret.t; second vice-presi tent, J. P. Starns; secretary, A. W. Ek; treasurer. W. B. Starnes; general counsel for company, Charles A. Wehb. The boas’d of directors is composed f the following officers: Gay Green. A. W. Ek. W. B. Starnes, J. N. Jar rett and W. B. Starnes. JUST MASHED 'EM Victory of the A. and at Columbia. Plucky Little Game Cocks of the Pal metto State Spurred Like Blazes But Couldn't Stand the Pres sure. (Special to News and Observer.) Columbia, S. C., Oct. 26. 1905. — V. and M. 29: South Carolina, O. The heavy team from the Tar Heel State walked over the Garnet and Black this morning before 3,000 peo ple, and when the execution was over there was little left 1 of the plucky lit tle game cocks. It was a case of a vory heavy weigdht meeting a light one and that helped by several cost ly fumbles. There were some sensa tional plays, however, despite the heavy line work South Carolina held her own well and several times the Tar Heels had to kick. Hardy, the big left half-back, was a whole team in himself, and one play brought ap plause from the Garnett and Black. The bail had been kicked to tne ten yard line and was caught by Hardy. There was some pretty interference and the huskv fellow went down the 110 yars dlike a flash and a touchdown.* McKay. Foster, xlolmes, Swigert and others were in the game !al the rime, hut it could be seen from the first that it was only a ques tion of how much score. Carolina kicked off and Groft down ed Hardy, who caught the ball, then with a series of heavy smashes went down to within twenty yards of the goal when a fumble lost the ball. Car olina had to kick at the very starr, however, and A. & A. M. 'gain had the kick The Heisman delayed pass t.ric was worked twice for twenty yards and Bee bee took the hall over the line in iust ten minutes. Hardy icked the goal. Score 6 to 0. The visitors kicked off and Caroli na lost the ball on a fumble. The heavy A. & M. line S' 0 * to work again and in just a minute and a half Hardv had taken the ball over and kicked another goa.. Seoie 12 to 0. From then on to the end of the chapter it was the same old story. CHURCH MAPS OUT NEXT TEAR'S WORK Encouraging Reports to Missionary Convention. MANY NEW MEMBERS Three Men Recommended for Ordina tion to the Ministry. Old Officers Re-Eleclel New Trustees for Atlantic Christian College. Meets Next at Dunn. (Special to News and Observer.) LaGrange, N. C., Oct. 26. —The committee on nominations of the of ficers of the North Carolina Mission ary Convention this morning recom mended tho re-election of the old board entire. A resolution was in troduced requesting all churches to double their appropriations for State work next year and to support their ministers in holding weeks meet ings for weak points. This evoked much discussion and was finally pass ed. A strong plea was presented for the founding of a church in Durham. The corresponding secretary, J. B. Jones, of Wilson, re;ql his report, first re viewing the several phases of national work and then presenting the impor tant features of the State work for the past year. Several great meet ings weer held in the State, especially by the Martin family through whose efforts over 300 additions were secur ed to the churches. In the whole State there were about 1,000 additions prob ably a larger number than in any pre vious year. In the town of Belhaven SIOO, was applied for preaching, and the church has erected a parsonage. In Dover a new church building has lately been erected by the members and the same amount was given for preaching. At Darden in Martin county, a meeting was hold with a number of additions. In the Northeast district one evangi - list has been supported and half a dozen are needed. Spray, an important manufacturing ■point has been helped SIOO. At Plymouth there is a new building, but the congregation is weak, apd imme diate help is needed. A new organiza tion has been effected at Maclesfieid by the corresponding secretary. A new church was organized at Rocky Mount by the Martin family and a new church is needed. R. A. Smith has been acting as State evangelist. About $1,200 has been contributed this year to State work. The treasurer’s report showed a balance on hand of $709.02. A symposium of four 15 minutes speeches was held on State work. Bonds for A. <’. College. President J. J. Harper, of Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, N. C., of fered a resolution that the Board of Trustees of the institution be author ized to issue bonds for tiie indebted ness of the college for a sum not to ;.\coe.u $200,000 and the name of tho school was changed from A. C. Col lege Co., to A. C. College Incorpora ted. By action of the convention the title was transferred from the conven tion to trustees. The following new trustees were elected: J. W. Hines, Rocky Mount; Xurney Wilson, E. A. Moye, Greenville; and J. F. Taylor, Kinston. N. C. J. T. Moore and R. D. Philpot pre sented credentials and were received as ministers by the convention. C. F. Outlaw. George Moore and E. Moore passed examinations and were recom mended for ordination to the minis try. ’The committee on the next con vention recommended the Tuesday af ter the fourth Sunday in October, 1906, at Dunn. It was recommend or that the Watch Tower, now being published by H. T. King, at Green ville, be supported by the North Car >lina brotherhood. The names of H. Moore and A. B. Cunningham were ordered placed on the root of minis ters. The final address of the conven tion on Christian Benevolence was delivered by A. B. Cunningham. “Womi n Elen Olliecrs.'** The committee on nomination of officers of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions reported the re election of Mrs. J. B. Jones, of Wil son, its president. Three vice-presi dents were elected this year. Mrs. Cal vin Woodard was chosen Treasurer. The other members of last year's board were re-elected. One of the features of the conven tion was the address of H. T. Cree, of Augusta, Ga„ who spoke on the sub ject of Church Extension. An organi sation was formed about ten years ago and has grown steadily arid rap idly in usefulness and At present there is a fund of one and one half million dollars which is not touched, but the interest of which is applied for the purpose ofaiding the needy congregations in the erection of. buildings. Annuities drawing 6 per sent interest during the life time of the donor, were sold. At pres-* ent there is a fund of one and one half million dollars which is not touched, but the interest of which is applied for the purpose of aiding the needy congregations in the erec tion of buildings. At the death of the donor the money becomes the propei ty of the society without conditions. A number of churches hove been helped in North Carolina, such as Asheville, Winston and other important points. T \ Atkins pastor of the Most End Christian church, Richmond. Va, de livered an address Wednesday night on the subject of Foreign Missions. One and one nuarter million dollars Inn: hron raised for this purpose the past rear, and at the Ban Francisco con vention this month the maik foi next year was set at $3,000,000. The age of the society is thirty-one years, hav ing hern organized in 18 74. There are at present 215 missionaries em ployed in the field, besides a large number of native helpers. The headquarters ot the society is Cincinnati, and is in charge of three of the most competent men in th« brotherhood, F. M. Raines, A. McLain and S. J. Corey. The society has lately entered Thibet. The amount raised in North Caroli na tin's year is SI,OOO. DISPATCH BOAT DOLPHIN. Slu* Will Carry the* President from Hampton Hoads to Washington. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Oct. 26.—The dispatch boat Dolphin has been assigned by the Navy Department as the vessel which will carry the President and party to Washington from Hampton Roads, when he arrives there from New Orleans on the West Virginia. She was reported to the Navy De partment today to be enroute from Highland Light for the Chesapeake. TO TIIE FEDERAL DEAD. Confederate Veterans Attend the Un veiling of a Monument. (By the Associated Press.) Richmond. Va., Oct. 25. A hand some monument in honor of the dead of the 54th Pennsylvania regiment of volunteer veterans was unveiled by Miss Mostol'ler on the New market Va., battlefield today in the presence of several hundred people. .Five Years For Newark Toney. . Greenville, S. C., Oct. 25.-—Thomas F. Lacey, alias “Newark Toney”, was convicted in Federal court here to da of robbing the postoffice t McColi, S. C., on December 9, and was sentenced to five years in the Federal penitentiary at Atlanta. A KILLKENNY WAR Look Out for it Among Tar Heel Republicans. Between Whiskey Frauds and Ander son is Rollins Too Rattled to Make Change Recommended for Wades boro Postoffice? (Special to News and Observer.) Washington, D. C\, Oct. 26. —If the people of Wadesboro are dissatisfied with Postmaster Matthewson, it ap pears that they have only the chair man of tne State Republican Commit tee. 1 nos. S. Rollins, to blame, as it uas leameu at tne iosi. Dnice De panmeiit tnat complaints were filed several mourns ago against tne pres ent incumbent ami mat an inspector was sent down to verity tne enlarges, tne inspectors report recoinmenuing tvir. iViattnewson’s dismissal was re turned to tiie Department shortly iheralter, and it is stateu that urn only reason tor tne continuance oi ihui gent.email in office is tne failure of Mr. Ro.iins to name a candidate tor the position as me vVadesboro ot* lice pays, it is said, about $1,500 a year. Ufiere are a number of appli cations flu file, but coining could be learned as to the names of the ap plicants. Mr. Rollins is expected here soon after the President returns, and win probably have settled ,on somebody tor the Wadesboro office unless he is detained in North Carolina in the ef fort, which it is said here today, Re publicans ot that State are making efforts to get together and hush up quarrels which are now threatening to make interesting disclosures. As confirmation of this report an afternoon paper published here has the following: “North Carolina Re publicans are having a sad time with alleged moonshine frauds in the Tar Heet State. Under instructions from the Department of Justice, District Attorney Holton is pressing a num ber of cases against the moonshiners and Internal Revenue collectors and politicians, who are charged with con spiracy with distillers to defraud the government. In addition H. S. An derson, who formerly represented Henderson county in the State Senate, has instituted a suit for damages against Republican State Chairman Rollins, Collector Harkins, District At torney Holton and Marshal Millikan. The suit arose from Anderson’s con test for Internal Revenue collector ship of the Fifth District, North Caro lina Republicans are said to be trying to get together and ‘bust’ things qp The several cliques, however, are said to promise a Kilkenny war.” Henry S. Shepard has been appoint ed Postmaster at Cyrus, Onslow county, N. C. Additional service has been order ed on rural free delivery route No. 5, from Mt. Airy. Surry county, to take effect January 2nd. W. M. Carter, of Wilson, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Armfield, of Monroe, are here today. Action as to Strike Postponed. (By the Associated Press.) Fall River, Mass., Oct. 25. —Each of the five unions connected with the textile industry voted unanimously to night to postpone action on the matter of declaring a strike until next Mon day. This was done a the request of the committee of the Manufacturers’ Association, who desired thatvradical | action he postponed pending a con ference to he arranged between the Manufacturers’ Association and a committee from the Textile Council. Jackson, Miss., Oct. 25.—The State Board of Health today released from service all health officers employed at' < *if«eted points and no more fever bui- i letins will be issued from the office l The disease has practically run Its] J THE WEATHER TO-DAY. For the City. £ | FAIR. J Price Five Cents. THETHRIFTY FAKIR'S PARADISE Os FOOLS Games at the Fair of Highway Sort. BIGSrAKES SNATCHED i Story of a Stupid Countryman Who Went for a Policeman and One Other Who Did the Fakir at His Own Game. While it seemed that everybody in the State was gaping at the stand from which the President was speak ing on Roosevelt day, accumulations of stories since the Fair prove that while the great crowd was jammed in front of- the grand-stand and the pick-pockets were getting in their gentle work, the gentlemen of the pea, the cork ball, the rolling marble and the turning arrow were reaping a rich harvest on the outskirts of that seething sea of humanity. While- these gentry have in past times lent to the fair a spice to the daring, a tinge of philosophy to the observant and proved the downfall of a multitude of fools, they were never before conducted with the bravado or with the reckless disregard of fair play, which characterized their oper ation this year. Perhaps the crowds were responsible for the taking off of the lid, since everybody was too busy in getting in somebody else's way to attend to the President to notice them; but at any rate the games as conducted were .in many instances equal to a Chicago hold-up. That they had fools in plenty to operate upon is no excuse for their having been allowed on the grounds and con sidering the crowds no reflection on the populace at large. A man with a minimum of mentality should have a certain assurance that when he buys a fifty cent ticket his losses will he kept within reason. Standards of gaming went up or down according to the victim’s purse, and when it was all over there were few to tell the tn'e. Fools rarely confess after self comiction. How one of these games worked was yesterday vividly related by a gentleman who watched a fel low citizen “bilked” to the tunc of a hundred and twenty dollars. The tale may be illuminating to some minds, and puzzling to others, but cannot fail to picture a large class of the Fair "attractions” accurately. The gentleman with the loud vest and the raven’s-wlng mustasche, was standing behind a small board on three legs which folded up at will much after the manner of a camel's under-pinning when he sits down.. With this capital ho made out-cry to the crowd who surged about him and occasionally one stopped to see, hesi tated to examine, followed his avariee to play. The most of these lost their small amounts, charged them up to expenses and departed. The coun tryman in question, however, tarried longer than the rest and, when first loticed, was remonstrating sheepish ly with the keeper of the board. According to the conversation, it seemed that the gentleman from the farm had won, “on paper” fifteen dol lars. These, his winnings, he was then demanding. His avarice had, apparently reached his limit. He was willing to quit , having trusted the showman, he was then demanding an account. The showman remon strated. “What.” ho exclaimed. “You come here and risk fifty cents and want to carry away sls; give a fellow a chance for his money. If you want fifteen dollars, you’ll have to put down fifteen and play for it.” The countryman seemed dazed He scratched his head and demurred. The showman burst into a lava-flow of words. He spoke with a rapidity which loft his victim dazed: “How do you expect to win sls for 50 cents!" he cried excitedly. “What do you take me for? This is a fair game. Put down your money like a man. Y<»u put fifteen on the spot. If the ball falls in your place you win fifteen. This is no charity bazaar!” He ap pealed to the crowd: “Fair game, 1 »ir stakes, every man has the same chance.” “Rut—” said the countryman. “I’ve already won fifteen dollars!” “Listen at that,” cried the showman, “r>-> v v >t? fifty cents!” At this the confederates came info the play. They unmercifully guyed the man from the fields who. fluster ed with much talk, still stood irreso lute. Finally one cf the “comc-ons" exclaimed: “Ah! let him alone, he’s got no money!” That finished the victim. He might not have sense, he might not have the ability to explain what he saw and knew—-or thought he knew, but he had money. He’d show ’em. He grasned the top of his trousers with his left hand and stuck a great right hand deep into his ooeket. When he withdrew it he clutched a roll of bills. He counted them gravely—a hundred and twenty dollars! The fakir’s eyes glittered. “Play you for t’n Jt.“ said he. “put it down.” As though hypnotized the countryman placed it on the board. He stated that he did not want to play. What he wanted was his fifteen dollars. “Roll the ball,” cried the fakir, but the countryman stood still. “Well, I'll roll for you then.” There was a click, the little ball went round - its path, stopped, and the fakir cried out triumphantly. “Lost tbit time, sir," and appropriated the money. (Continued on Page Five.)
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 27, 1905, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75