Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Anniston Hot Blast newspaper abstracts for SEPT 1884 September 1884 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: C Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net October 19, 2006, 8:55 pm The Annison Hot Blast September 1884 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ANNISTON HOT BLAST", Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama for SEPTEMBER 1884 NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 6, 1884 ALABAMA State News TALLADEGA County News Mr. Arch Hendricks is lying quite ill at Mr. G.A. Jonier's residence. --- CALHOUN County Local News Mrs. Seawright of Nashville who has been visiting her relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Peek, expects to return home today. --- Mrs. A.M. Webb of Fort Gaines, Ga., is visiting her sister Mrs. Elmore Garrett. Through the genial influence of the healthful climate of Anniston, she hopes to recover from the malarial influences of the Chattahoochee river flats. She will remain until after frost. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 20, 1884 CALHOUN County Local News AYERS MISSING; Throws the City into Feverish Excitement; While the Mystery Attending His Disappearance Grows Thicker as Days Pass By Late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, Anniston was thrown into an excitement by the annoucement that Mr. Ben F. Ayers, ticket and freight agent of the Anniston & Atlantic railroad, had disappeared, leaving no trace whatever as to his whereabouts. Mr. Ayers coat and vest were still hanging in their accustomed place in the railroad office, while the books, papers and everything pertaining to his business were all right. At first, nothing serious was thought about his absence, it being surmised that he had probably gone to Talladega or Selma the night before and would return to his post during the day. The presence of his coat and vest soon dispelled this theory and the manager's of the Anniston & Atlantic road began to make a diligent search for their missing agent. A thorough examination of his office, books and papers was made and everything was found to be in its usual correct style. His freight bills of the day had been properly checked and filed. Suspicions were aroused that Ayers had suicided and during the afternoon Mr. James, civil engineer of the road, found a badly soiled handkerchief on the banks of the creek nearby, when preparations were made for dragging the stream. A thorough dragging of the water failed to give any clue of the missing man, while the searchers were considerably at a loss to know the next step to take. A hunting party was organized, and the mountains and ore mines all over that part of the city were most thoroughly searched and gone over, but failed to develop anything, save the finding of a box of sardines and a deck of cards scattered around a clump of trees. So far, nothing has been learned as to the disappearance of the agent, while theories differ as to the cause of his absence. As far as can be learned, Mr. Ayers was last seen about eleven o'clock Monday night. He was in his room, assorting his clothes for the wash, when he said to his roommate that he would go down to the office and finish up his day's work. This he probably did from the appearance of his books and papers. Another theory was that he had probably gone on a spree, but his past actions and strict attention to business dispelled this thought in the minds of many, while if he had gone on such a frolic, he surely would not have left coatless and his business unattended. Some think it a case of suicide, as on the Sunday previous he touched the match to a considerable number of his private papers and letters. Still, his general disposition would hardly give weight to that idea, Ayers being of a jovial and congenial nature. All in all, the entire people are at a loss to know where the agent could possibly be, and if dead, where his body could be so securely hidden away. Ayers is not in any way indebted to the Anniston & Atlantic railroad company, while his books and papers have always been correct and neatly kept. Saturday he deposited a large sum of money belonging to the company, besides he had in his possession bills of the company to the amount of several hundred dollars. The Anniston & Atlanta railroad is also due him his salary for the half of July and all of August, which would go to show that had he intended leaving, he would surely have collected the amount due him. Looking at the disappearance of Ayers from every standpoint, the most plausible theory is that he has been foully dealt with, whether for robbery or to satisfy a grudge, can not be ascertained. If for robbery, his murderers did not have time to go and raid his office, while if to satisfy a grudge, the guilty ones have done their work well, leaving no trace as to who they are or where they have placed the body of their victim. Mr. Ayers is a young man, about twenty-five years of age, heavy built, black hair, eyes and moustache, while his complexion has rather an oily appearance. His home is in Smithville, West Virginia where his people reside. It is said that he was at one time clerk of the Ritchie county court. He stood well with the railroad, having their entire confidence and respect. Socially, Ayers was generally liked by everyone, being polite, gentlemanly and considered by those with whom he was intimate, to be a fast friend, in whom confidence could easily be placed. It is said "murder will out" and if the disappearance of Ayers and the mystery surrounding him is murder, it is sincerely hoped that such a deed in this community will be speedily ferreted out, and the guilty ones punished. The managers of the Anniston & Atlantic are using their utmost endeavors to clear up the mystery and it is hoped their efforts will meet with success, while the most important question is "Where is Ben Ayers, the missing railroad agent? " ----- ALABAMA State News SUMTER County News The village of Livingston, Ala., is in a tumult of excitement over a most sensational scandal which has developed in one of the leading families in that place. Colonel Kirkland is one of the most prominent men of Livingston. His wife is a woman of peerless beauty and connected with the leading families of the state. The couple were acknowledged leaders of society in their county, and their wealth and standing gave them prominence throughout that region. A few weeks ago, Kirkland discovered that his wife had received attentions from his head bookkeeper, John Boyd, and an investigation of the facts developed that she had been untrue to him. He confronted her with the charge and she cooly admitted its truth. Boyd, when questioned by him, acknowledged the fact and said "You were a fool not to have seen it long ago." Kirkland was restrained by friends from shooting him and at once threw the county into a frenzy of excitement by filing a bill for divorce, charging his wife with adultery. She has filed a cross bill acknowledging the charge, but demanding the children, alleging in her bill that Boyd is the father of them. ----- BARBOUR County News Eufaula, Sept. 18th The boiler of the compress exploded at two o'clock Monday, making a complete wreck of the building instantly. Building contents were at once in a mass of flames. The noise was terrific and was heard over the entire city. John Wimbish, fireman, Geo. Richardson, plasterer, Jere Brooks, a youth, all colored, were killed. Mike B. Pickett, chief clerk is missing and is buried under a brick wall. Tom McLeroy, a colored errand boy, has a leg broken and skull crushed; Wm. Hollman, cottage receiver is badly scaleded on the neck and arms; Silas Thomas, a colored boy is badly hurt in the head and foot; Superintendant Chas. J. McLaughlin was thrown twenty feet but was not badly hurt. --- DALLAS County News R.M. Morrow, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Selma, died a few days ago. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 27, 1884 CALHOUN County Local News Married, on Thursday at four o'clock, Sept. 11th, at the residence of Mr. George Reaves by Rev. J.H. Reaves, Miss Ella Parker to Mr. Dock Reaves, all of Calhoun county, Ala. The best wishes of a host of friends of the happy couple are tendered to them. --- Died, Thursday at his residence four miles south of Oxford, Mr. W.S. Foggy in his 60th year. Mr. Foggy was a worthy and highly respected citizen. --- Mrs. Whitfield Teague of Oxford is quite ill and not expected to live through the day. --- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/newspapers/anniston1146gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 8.9 Kb