North Carolina Newspapers

The Svirv LEADS Others Follow VOL. 2. NO. 5. The Svin LEADS Others Follow RUTHERFORDTON, N. C, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 30, J903. $J.OO A YEAR. REVENUE MEN FIRE ON A MOONSHINER Blockade Still And 700 Gallons Of Beer Captured. A DESPERATE CHARACTER. While The Men Were In The Still Destroying It, The Owner Re turned With A Shot Gun, But Was' Driven Back With Bullets By Deputy Collector Roland. Last Saturday morning shortly after daybreak Deputy Collector Roland, of Asheville, accompanied by Messrs. Dan Kanipe, of Marion, and Lewis Scoggin, of this place, made a revenue raid into the Pea Ridge section, in Polk county, and captured a blockade still and 700 gallons of beer belonging to Asbury Fig gins, a desperate negro character of that county. The officers went to the still before daylight, and waited for Figgins to come and start up. Finally he showed up, and was making ready for a run when the officers started for him. He sprang and ran for life under a shower of bullets. Figgins did not see but two men as he escaped. He crossed the hill and watch ed Messrs. Kanipe and Scoggin go into his place of business and begin to de stroy the contents. This made him angry, and as he was returning with a double-barrel shotgun for the purpose of killing the men in the still. Deputy Roland stepped out from the bushes and opened fire on him for the second time. He made his escape, and nothing has been heard of him since. It was a close call for the officers, although they knew of Figgins' reputa tion and went fully prepared to risk no weak points. They all expressed sur prise that the negro didn't take a crack at them, regardless of consequences. The San learns that Figgins has been blockading in Polk county for years, and that there are more than a dozen war rants for him for different offences, blockading being the chief among tbem all. It was further stated that almost every officer in Polk county, and many in South Carolina, had warrants for him, but that on account of his sneaking and dangers reputation they were not executed. He Should Be Left Alone. The Sylva church having withdrawn her acceptance of the report of the Pres bytery called in the case of Rev. Tobias Bright, and having cancelled his ordina tion, he stands now in the relation of church member. This action followed Brother Blight's voluntary withdrawal from the ministry. It seems to us that our brother may be left now in peace. He has paid the penalty of the courts, and he has suffered the loss of his stand ing as a minister. Well may we pause to estimate the pangs that he has en dured. In the course of time it will be come his brethren to voice their present sympathy for him in making way for his restoration to his work. It may re quire more courage to forgive than to condemn ; but we men must do each in its time. Biblical Recorder. The Prospects Are Fine. The prospect for a fine attendance at the "Westminster School this year is very promising. Professor Brand, the new principal, is a capital and capable young man, and is making a favorable impres sion on the people of the county gener ally. He is working the school business for all there is in it, and his efforts are bound to prove very profitable to that excellent institution. The Sun calls special attention to the school's large advertisement in this issue. We want every one who is inter ested in education to read it. Home From the Army. Mr. Herbert Toms, who has been in the United States Artillery for five years, has been mustered oat and arrived home Sunday. He has seen much of the country and had but very little hard duty, still he says he will not re-enlist that he has all he wants of the army life for the present. Mr. Toms has many friends here who are glad to see him back and in good health. "Whiskey For Camphor." Marion's reputation now lias reached as far as Rutherfordton. Four packages, marked with Marion business tags, were put off there recently. What do you reckon that revenue officer was going to do with his? For camphor, may be. Marion News. FARMER MAYPOP. Some Reflections and Comparisons By a Farmer. (Written for The Sun.) When I go to town days like last first Monday, when evry thing's bilin', and it looks as if everybody is going to be mad with everybody else, it makes me think of the time when I first began to run a 40-tooth harrow over my young cotton. It looked like destruction, but a few days later every little possun ear was was standing straight up and growing bigger and bigger. Teddy and Grover make me think of my daughter Rindy's flower beds. She's got one bed of touch-me-nots, and you never know when they're going to pop oS, or when the seed will fall. Then she's got a row of big sunflowers run uing down to the fish-pond, with their great, big open faces turned to the sun, and the brighter it shines the prettier they look. Don't you see the semblance? Oh! these floppers! They make me think of that pretty vine that came up in my garden, and I hoed it and took good care of it, and when it bloomed out and the little melons began to grow, they had the right color; but once I thumped one, and behold! it was just a citron, a regular pie melon, so I just throwed it over the fence. But fruit was scarce at neighbor Radicaliff s, and they took it and soaked it to make it tough, and preserved it. - That town of Charlotte makes me think of a patch I sowed in peas and cane last year. It was good soil, but I put a good coat of ashes and commer cial fertilizer on it, and w hen I cut the hay I could not shock it on the land it was grown on. Charlotte has fertilized her opportunity with printer's ink and hustle, and now she has to stack her overplus of citizens and industrial enter prises way out in Dilworth and other suburbs. Boys, it pays to put it on thick. This postoffice muddle up at Washing ton is like that patch of wheat I sowed on the north side of the brancli last year. The crop had been good on it for several years, but I thought I would make it bigger, so I spread out a little on each side, plowed it with the most expensive tools, used high-priced guano, but did'nt notice the analysis; used good-looking seed, but in my haste to get it in proper shape at the proper time I did not sieve it, though I had good sieve service at hand. It growed beautifully and was admired by all my neighbors, but along in May some one called my attention to some heads of F-mut, but I only laughed. Wheat so well planted would come out O K. But the continued warnings of my neighbors finally brought me to look at it. I tried to remove the smut heads, but when the threshers came the stink and dust almost overcame them. Now, how am I to sieve out the stink? A FARMER. FROM" BLALOCK. A Big Land Deal A Revival Meet ing Other News. (Special to The Sun.) BLALOCK, N. C. July 27.-Crops are all finished up in this section, and tan bark hauling is now one of the chief in dustries. - A revival meeting is going on at Bethel church. The Methodists are holding conference at Salem church. There are about thirty preachers in at tendance. Chickens will be scarce in this vicinity thereafter. Mr. L. P. Crawford has sold a part of his Old Fort farm to F. H. Manney, of Rowan county, who will sell the same as town lots. Tiie amount sold was 50 acres, and the consideration was $10,000. Mrs. J. A. Burgin and son left on the 23d for Kentucky, where they will visit relatives and friends during the fall. Mr. James Nichols, of Otter Creek, has removed to Old Fort, where he will continue the mercantile business. We wish him great success. In closing, we must extend our sym pathy to our friend, Mr. C. F. Owenby, of Tiger, N. C, who has been in our neighborhood on a matrimonial cam paign. He says he has heen all over Rutherford county, and has not yet found his ideal. - He says that Messrs. L. F. Flynn and W. G. Cole, two of Tiger's successful merchants, are doing a rushing business at present. We think it would be well for Mr. Owenby if he would leave off that despondent feeling, as there have been several compliments paid him at Blalock's. Will Open Gallery August 3d. Messrs. Howenstein & Webb, photo graphers, with galleries at Morganton and Marion, have established a gallery at this place also, located in the Harrill building, which lias been entirely re modeled and arranged with everything necessary for the production of fine work. Mr. Howenstein will have the gallery open for business the first week in Au gust, beginning Monday; also, first . londay and week following of each month thereafter. Call and see the kind of photographs they are making. You will certainly be pleased. NEW ENTERPRISE FOR THIS TOWN. The Oak-Wood Manufacturing Company Incorporated. CAPITAL STOCK IS $25,000. Messrs George F. Fisher, of Chica go, And L. E. And E. A. Powers, of Rutherfordton, Constitutes The Company New Factory To Be Running By 15th of October. The Oak-Wood Manufacturing Com pany for which a charter was granted last week with an authorized capital of $25,000 and 5,500 subscribed by the charter members, Messrs. George F. Fisher, late of Chicago, and L. E. and E. A. Powers, of this place, a modern factory building will be erected on the land recently purchased on the railroad for this purpose. The equipment of im proved machinery for the construction of hard woods into furniture and pine woods into building material will be purchased. The Sun understands Mr. Fisher will have the general management of the company, and Mr. L. E. Powers will superintend the door, blind and building department and Mr. E. A. Powers will superintend the furniture department. We are informed that the plant is expected to be in full operation by Oc tober loth. Mr. Fisher has been at the head of en terprises in Chicago for many years and is a capable and thoroughly trained busi ness man. Messrs. L. E. and E A. Powers have an established reputation in this and other counties throughout the State for their fine work, and that the company will succeed, there is no question in the minds of those who know the gentle men composing the company. G. B. A. WRITES AGAIN. He Explains Why He Wrote His First Unreasonable Article. (To The Editor of The Sun.) It would be amusing if it was not pitiful to see the flutter among false friends of temperance, caused by my ar ticle a few weeks ago on the closing of the dispensary. Now, God is no repec ter of persons, neither is He a respecter of vice. If a man is not a hypocritical scoundrel, what does he want to escape the net in one place and fall into it in another? Does he want to condone the sins he is inclined to by damning those he has mind to? Elam McKinney and X Ray raise the question of personal liberty. They seem to think that if men are put on their honor to do right they will do it. Can not they see that men are going to be just as mean as the law and a goaded public opinion will let them be. At least we have been going on this principle. If this is not so then McKinney and X Ray are right, and what we wTant to do is to persuade men to leave off evil and choose good just for the sake of the good. But if they are right we, or at least what seems to be the great majority of us, are mak a great mistake. It is up to them to show that personal liberty has not been forfeited and that men must te compelled along the line of right-doing. Is the fear of God going to keep a man from excess in the use of whiskey, and allow him to revel in the indulgence of his carnal appetites in other directions? It is either putting on the flimsy mask of the hypocrite, or acting the fool, to pose as a reformer by hacking at one limb of the tree of evil, and leave all the others untouched, for new sprouts will grow out, even if you get the limb cut off. Strike at the root of the tree. It is a man of very limited informa tion who does not know people who have wrecked their nerves by the excessive use of coffee or tea. A man in Ruther ford county often drinks a tumbler of apple vinegar just for the exilerating and intoxicating effect. Can not you eat your greens without vinegar, or your buiscuit without coffee for the sake of your weak brother? If you can not, then shut up. Your veil of hypocracy is getting too thin for longer wear. We read in the Scriptures that while thousands stopped to drink, three hun dred men pressed on and gained a vic tory, the fame of which has been Handed down to the latest generation. Now, you hypocrites ! revel in your carnal indulgence and hack away on the. old scared limb of whiskey; but Gideon's Band will go forward in spite of you and possess the land. G. B. A. Mr. G. W. Long, of Brittain, was here Monday. HON. G. B. PBUETT. A Short Sketch of His Life and Character. (To the Editor of The Sun.) Mr. G. B. Pruett was born in 1848 in Cleveland county. N. C., and removed to Rutherford county in 1868, when 20 years of age, and has since continued to reside in this county. He resides at Ellenboro and has been prominently HON. G. B. PRUETT. identified with the leading enterprises of the town ; is president and general man ager of the Ellenboro Telephone Co., and has been since its organization. He is a leading member of the Baptist church and has been prominent in all important church work ; has been secre tary of the Sandy Run Baptist Associa tion for a number of years. Mr. Pruett is by occupation a farmer, but has taken a prominent part in poli tics since 1882 when lie was a candidate of the Republican party for the Legisla ture, defeating Col. Nathan Young, one of the most prominent and influential Democrats of the county. He' was in strumental while in the Legislature in securing the charter under which the present or so-called 3 C's railroad was built, without which charter we might have been without a railroad to this day. Mr. Pruett has been the candidate of his party for the Legislature when the chances were strongly against him and although defeated, has always polled a larger vote, thus showing his popu larity with the people . He is preemi nently a man of the people.and the more the people see of him the better they like him and the more popular he be comes with the masses. He is an ideal people,s candidate for Congress, and if lie should be the Republican nominee, would no doubt poll the full strength of his party. REPUBLICAN. OUR NEIGHBOR CITY. Plenty of Live News Items and Personals. (Special to The Sun.) FOREST CITY, N. C, July 28 Mrs. L. A. Moore and Miss Etta Webb went to Sulphur Spring Saturday. The ice cream supper Saturday night, under the auspices of the Woman's Missionary Society, was a success. The cream was served on Mrs. Yarborough's lawn, and the hot weather caused the people to buy freely. Rev. L. L. Smith is conducting a pro tracted meeting at Sunshine- The Hyder Mfg. Co., have begun work on their shop. The foundation for the boiler and engine room has been dug, and some of the framing cut. The company is composed of the following ing officers : J. N. Jones, President ; W. D. Proctor, vice-President and Treas urer; H. L. Hyder, Manager. Tom Biggerstaff and Maggie Murphy wrere married Tuesday night. L. C. Lawrence, F. I. Davis, Fred Harrill, Clay Harrill, Fay Harrill, and Julius Burgess, returned Friday from Old Fort. Charlie Simmons, jr., visited friends and relatives here last week. Lee W. Lynch and Geo. R. Moore went to Cleveland county Monday on a surveying tour. The sick people of our town are all improving. Dr. T. C. McBrayer began making brick this week to build his new store house. Ralph Flack and Miss Maggie Pad gette went to Mt. Pleasant Sunday to the Singing Convention. Mr. Duvall, superintendent of Caro leen Mills, and family, and Mr. Lewis Anderson and family, of Cliff side, pass ed through town Friday en route to Chimney Rock. The hind axle of Mr. Duval's carriage broke while on the way and they stopped to have it repaired. The singing convention at Mt. Pleas ant Sunday was well attended. The judges decided in favor of the new book. Mrs. S. E. Wolfe, of Rutherfordton, is at the Blue Ridge Inn to spend two weeks with her husband, who is the genial and affable clerk at that hotel. Mrs. Wolfe was accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. R. S. Eaves, and little grandson, Robert Fanning Eaves. Hen dersonville Hustler, 22. A protracted meeting will begin at the Baptist church the first Sunday in August, conducted by Rev. J. M.Walker, of Rutherfordton, with the probable as sistance of Rev. C. B. Justice, of Ruth erfordton. Polk County News, 24. SHORT ITEMS FOR A HASTY READER. Some Interesting Events of The Past Seven Days. PUT UNDER ONE HEADING. What The Sun Reporter Finds On His Rounds to Write About In Rutherfordton And Throughout Progressive Rutherford County. Those Who Are Going & Coming. ' Mr. Vance Scoggin returned to the city Sunday. Mr. D. F. Morrow will be home for a few days this week. Mr. H. A. Kutz, of Charlotte, was here Sunday and Monday. Mr. Millard Flack, one of Cuba's substantial citizens, was here Monday. Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Justice and chil dren returned. from Lincolnton Sunday. Mr. John C. Mills returned Friday from a week's business trip to Ashe ville. Mr. J. W. Metcalf. Green Hill's pop ular postmaster, was a visitor to the city Monday- Miss Mattie Edwards returned Thursday from a visit to relatives at Memory. Mr. J. L. Taylor, one of Forest City's popular merchants, was here Monday. Mr. R. L. Greenlee, a popular and well known business man of Marion, was here Sunday. Mr. J. M. Mode, of Gamble's Store, was here Sunday, the guest of his son, Mr. W. J. Mode. A law was passed by the last legisla ture prohibiting the shooting of bullbats in North Carolina. Mrs. E. B. Harris and children ex pect to go to Chimney Rock next week to spend ten days. rMr. T. L. Nichols, of Otter Creek, was here Tuesday. He gave The Sun a call before leaving town. Mr. L. Logan, the popular proprie tor of the Logan House at Chimney Rock, was in the city Monday. Mr. Jno. C. Mills has purchased Mr. T. C. Coxe's interest in the Mills & Coxe store at Green River. Mr. James Bell returned Friday from Knoxville, where he has been at tending the South's Summer School. Mr. J. J. Hardin was among the vis iters to the city Monday. He is the pop ular postmaster and merchant at Bon ney. Mr. C. C. Reid talks to you in an attractive new advertisement this week. Bargains are always to be found in his ads. Mr. J. R. Maynard, the popular manager of The A. D. Jones Co., at Forest City, was hereon business Mon day. Mr. R. T. Lewis, one of Green Hill's popular citizens and good farmers, was here Saturday and gave The Sun a pleas ant call. Mr. W. L. Jackson, one of Bob's pogular and clever citizens, was here Monday and gave The Sun office a pleasant call. The educational rally to be held at Brittain will take place the 5th, as was announced in the church clippings in the last issue of The Sun. Mr. Will Wilkins, who is in the drug business at King's Mountain, was up this week on a visit to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wilkins. We are glad to learn that Mrs. J. B. Higgins, who has been quite sick for more than two weeks, is much improved and is on the road to recovery. The Sun t is glad to learn that Mr. Charlie Callahan, who has been quite sick for ten days, is improving. His many friends hope to see him out again at an early date. Messrs. Austin D. Koch, represent ing The Asheville Daily Citizen, and Mr. Robert Haynes, representing the Raleigh Morning Post, both hustlers, were here last week. Mr. J. W. Higgins and son, Master Thomas, were here Saturday from Bos tic. Mr. Higgins is one of The Sun's regular readers and is always a welcome visitor to tliis office. Mr. Jno. C. Mills has been made financial agent for the heirs of the Col. Coxe estate for Rutherford and Polk counties and will continue to attend to the business in these counties. The finest and largest peaches that have been on the market this year were brought to The Sun office Tuesday by Mr. J. B. Long, of Forest City. Mr. Long is a great fruit grower and what he can't raise no one else needn't try. MANY IMPROVEMENTS A Protracted Meeting to Commence Soon Other News. (Special to The Sun.) GILKEY, N. C, July 2& We are having very dry, hot weather, but corn looks well and cotton has come out beyond expectations. Farmers are about done laying by. Mr. C. Y. Carson and Pender Camp went to Pleasant Hill Sunday. They report hearing a good sermon and hav ing a nice time with the girls. Mr. Landy Walker went to Pleasant Grove church Sunday, and visited his sister, Mrs. Kizer, Sunday evening. Mr. Edgar Sorrels spent Friday night with his uncle, M. L. Sorrels, as he re turned to Lincolnton after visiting his parents in Henderson. Dr. A. M. Edwards and family are going to the mountains this week on a visit to friends. Mr. Juluis Elliott and Mr. Gus Cline visited Mr. Jonas Elliott Saturday night. A protracted meeting 'will commence at Gllboa the first Sunday. Mr. John Bradley is building a new addition to his house which will add to the appearance and comfort of his home. Mr. W. M. Daltou is making arrange ments to build a corn mill near his resi dence. He has a good shoal for a mill and will erect one soon. Mr. J. B. Bennett has been very sick for some time, but am glad to say he is improving slowly. A FINE BASE BALL TEAM. What the Professor Says The Crops Other Items. (Special to The Sun.) DARLINGTON, N. C, July f,;. The people are done laying-by in this section and we are needing rain.' Cotton is small and late. Professor says we will not get much July cotton, but thinks we will get a good August crop. Wheat is only threshing out about one fourth of a crop. We have a fine baseball team. We played last Saturday evening a good game. The Squire played several rounds and the Professor said he couldn't be beat. We will play again next Satur day evening and again the second Satur day in August. We will try the Otter Creek boys in a match game. The Professor is going on a trip next week to Sandy Plain, S. C. He will be absent about three monts. Mrs. J. W. Allen and Mr. J. S. Allen and Polie White, were visiting at Union Mills last week. Mr. Frank Fincannon and brother are visiting in Darlington this week. "Mr. John Bennett, of Gilkey, was vis iting his father, Mr. J . G. Long, last Sunday. Mr. L. B. Harris and Mr. John Hamp ton will start up their saw mill again this week. Misses Daisy and Lillie Nanney have returned home from college. E. W. S. KEETER NO BETTER School Commences Visitors and Other Doings. (Special to The Sun.) GLLKEY, N C, July 27 Sorry to learn that Mr. E. W. S. Keeter does not improve in health very rapidly. He is taking treatment at Rutherfordton at present. Mr. E. B. Keeter left for Jellico, Tenn. Friday, after spending some time here with relatives and friends. Mr. Berry Camp returned from Jellico, Tenn., where he has been at work for some time. Mr. H. M. Geer and family were visiting relatives at -Darlington Sunday. Messrs A. A. Cline, J. L. Elliott, E. P. Camp and C. G. Carson were "on the go" Sunday. Miss Florence Ruppe began teaching at Mountain Creek academy to-day. She is stopping at the Keeler boarding house. Miss Pearl Geer was visiting in the hamlet Sunday and Monday. Mr. J. E. Elliott, of Darlington, left this morning for Delaware, after spend ing some time with relatives and friends. We are having hot and dry weather. The people think rain is badly needed. The rain will doubtless fall in copious showers at the proper time. WORK ON THE GRAVEYARD. Is Mr. G. B. A. Dead? Personals and Locals. (Special to The Sun.) BONNY, N. C, July 25. We are having some dry weather, and crops are beginning to suffer. Mr. J. J. Hardin has just received another lot of new goods, which he will sell cheap for cash. Mr. C. Hardin and wife visited rela tives and friends at Caroleen last week. Mr. T. H. Rudisill, of Rutherfordton, visited Mr. L. T. Rollins this week. Mr. Fennan Rollins, of Caroleen, is visiting relatives and friends here. This week the people of the settlement met at Mt. Vernon to do some work on the graveyard. We are sorry to learn that Mr. Bate Carpenter is not improving. Mr. W. V. Hardin and family, of Polk county, are visiting relatives andfriends at Bonny this week. We just suppose Mr. G. B. A. is dead.