Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for JULY, AUG., SEPT. 1887 1887 ************************************************ 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 11, 2006, 12:06 am The Jacksonville Republican 1887 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN", Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama for JULY 1887, AUGUST 1887, SEPTEMBER 1887 NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 2, 1887 GEORGIA State News FROM A PRIVATE CHAPTER OF THE LATE WAR; Georgia Boy Kills Half a Dozen Men; Revenges his Father's Murder in the Late War Truth is stranger than fiction. The force of that trite quotation is borne upon a news reporter as he chatted with a man who in as many months, killed with his own hands six of his fellow men during the late war. The slayer was John T. Pryor of Pryor's Station in Georgia, a hamlet some miles below Rome, Georgia. He is of medium size, with brown hair and eyes which look as if they might glare, but not a man to be made out as a desperado or as one who had ever done anything especially out of the common routine of a farmer's life. Pryor had enlisted early in the war with the First Georgia Cavalry, served three months, provided a substitute and had gone home. Shortly after the evacuation of Rome, Pryor's Station in which he lived was left between the lines with no large force of either Army near him. As a consequence, small bands of camp followers, Independents as they called themselves, roamed over the countryside on predatory errands, bent on robbery and not stopping at murder if revenge or booty depended upon it. They were mostly stragglers or camp followers from the Confederate Army and, if anything, worse than Sherman's bummers as they were preying upon their friends. It was in this delectable condition of affairs, young Pryor, a boy of twenty- two years, found himself. All the men left at home were organized by Gov. Joe Brown into the then somewhat noted Georgia Militia. The subject of this very brief autobiography was made a First Lieutenant and his father made a Captain. A party headed by one Lucky Baldwin had been committing depredations of various sorts. With a small squad, Pryor started to arrest the first party. Four of these surrendered. Lucky threw himself on a horse with the hope of escape but Pryor drew a bead on him with a shot gun. The aim was deadly, the horse was wounded, the rider stuck to the animal until he was out of sight, then fell dead. His comrades were jailed at Cedartown. Soon, after, Colquitt, a Texas man, whose brother had been killed in an "Independent" party, came to Cedartown, declaring his purpose to kill somebody. Pryor was riding through the village and was called to help arrest the desperado, who had a pistol and was threatening Capt. Tracy Pryor, and his brother shot and killed him. "That is the prologue", Mr. Pryor said to the scribe, who began to get interested in this tale of slaughter, thinking as Hamlet said "thus bad begins, but worse remains behind." On April 2, 1864, the senior Pryor and a colored man were brutually murdered by a gang under one Phillips, who himself committed the murder in the high road, wantonly slaying a good old man, out of pure villany, and took the horses the twain were riding. Young Pryor followed the squad. He tracked them by their outrages and to him one man said "If the Lord will just hear my prayers, you'll catch them fellers by night." Near Colma, at the foot of the Wisener Mountain, the pursuer came upon his victims. They had dismounted, arranged for dinner and were sitting under the trees. As they saw Pryor, who at the head of four men, had advanced toward the ruffians; they rose, the movement bringing two of them in range. He fired one barrel of his shot gun, loaded with a bullet and buck shot at them. One dropped dead, the other ran around the corner of the house and fell lifeless. The third meanwhile was shooting with a pistol at Pryor, who turned and chased him through the woods and killed him with a pistol. The avenger had supposed that these were the men who had killed his father. They were not, but belonged to the same gang. Their names were Tucker, Slack and Poe. The last and crowning tragedy involved blood for blood and a son's revenge for his father's cowardly murder, shall be told in the language of the slayer: " I was offering a reward for Phillips and was shown the house he was in. I led four men to the house and laid around a day or two. A dog betrayed us. I killed the cur at 100 yards with a pistol and left. The second time we went, we laid around the house in the night until we knew he was there. I didn't want to kill him in the house where the women and children would see it. He pased me before day. I saw him but was afraid of killing the wrong man so let him go. We stayed around until 8 or 9 o'clock when we saw that he was gone. I took his horse's track and followed it until it went into a field. Phillips was in there plowing. He did not discover me until he came to the end of the rows. I raised up and called to him. He said " Is that you John?" I told him it was and that I had come after him. I allowed him to hitch his horse and made him wade a branch to come to me. I asked, "Phillips, do you know who killed my father?" Of course the evidence I had against him was positive or I never would have hunted him. He exacted a promise and then told me of two parties whom I knew were not in the country at the time. The scared darkies who had been in the field had run to the house and I saw people coming out of it. I said "Philips you are the fellow that killed him. If you have any prayers, conscientious scruples or think the devil is waiting for you, you have time to say a few words." I spoke as kindly as I am talking to you, but said I, " I'm going to kill you." He started to run. I shot him with a pistol, then with a gun. He dropped dead and I left him there." Acccording to Pryor, that wound up the lawless incursions, raids and murders, and in course of time, civil law reasserted itself. Years after, Mr. Pryor married an estimable lady upon whom fell the pall of lunacy. While he was taking her to an asylum, he met a man who rendered him assistance and said "You killed Tucker. If you hadn't, he would have killed me." The man who told this story of the killing, slaughter and revenge seemed absolutely passionless. His tone was even and moderate and he spoke in the most matter-of-fact way, the farthest possible removed from sanguinary gush or boasting. His tale is undoubtedly a true one, unexaggerated and lifts for a moment the veil that hangs over the past in the debatable ground between the two armies in North Georgia during the Civil War. Mr. Pryor has lived near the old home since the war, gathering what he could from the wreck of the family fortunes and accumulating more. Pryor's Station is named after him; he is a solid man, a prominent citizen, and very evidently feels no remorse or compunction for the deadly work he did during the dark days of the late very unpleasantness. ----- ALABAMA State News MADISON County News Brittain Franks has been Marshall of Huntsville forty years. --- MONTGOMERY County News Bob Jefferson was killed by the cars near Montgomery last week. --- TALLADEGA County News Mr. John C. Houghton, an old and highly respected citizen of Talladega died on Thursday last, of paralysis. --- Mr. John Marcus of Talladega has in his possession a genuine madstone, the sure cure for the bite of a rabid dog. --- JEFFERSON County News Watkins Phelan, the 11 year old son of Col. Jack Phelan, was killed recently by attempting to board a dummy car while in motion at Birmingham. --- PIKE County News Pick Carter of Troy was recently killed by lightning and his house was damaged. --- CALHOUN County Local News Mrs. Wm. H. Forney has gone to Tuscaloosa to visit her sister Mrs. Brandon. --- Mr. Wm. Johnston who has been residing in Texas is on a visit to his old home in Calhoun county. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 9, 1887 ALABAMA State News MACON County News Wm. Slaughter was whipped to death by three negroes near Tuskegee last week. --- BIBB County News A child of Mr. Henry Parker who lives two and a half miles from Centreville, in Bibb County, while playing around a table, overturned a lamp and was so badly burned that the child has since died. --- MORGAN County News The Decatur Valley says one of the saddest accidents that has happened in the city for many years happened at the Chemical and Charcoal works Tuesday morning. While at work, some scanting fell and it struck Mr. Joseph Drake in the face and breast, inflicting what may prove to be fatal injuries. ---- Aleck Young, colored, was shot and instantly killed on the L. & N. work train at Falkville a few days ago. Joe Rodgers, assistant cook, was taking the load from a pistol that had just been given him to take care of by one of the hands, when the weapon exploded. The ball struck Young in the right side, just below the breast, and passing through his body came out on the left side. --- CRENSHAW County News During an electrical storm there was considerable display of electricity in Rutledge last Sunday about noon. A heavy cloud rose in the southeast and passed around to the north and not a drop of rain fell there. The flashes of lightning were very vivid and struck the earth in several places. A tree was set on fire in Mrs. Howard's plantation. Mr. William Flinn's fence was set on fire, and a stalk of corn in Mr. T.A. Sikes' field was torn into shreds. Still another current struck the house of Mr. J.W. Tranum, melting about three inches of the blade of a grain cradle underneath the house, tearing the east corner block of the front porch into fragments, and melting a link of a trace chain which was stapled in a tree near by. At the time Mr. Tranum was asleep on the east end of the porch, and the same current striking him in the right soulder and passed down the right leg and tore his shoe from his foot. Mr. Tranum was knocked senseless and painfully burned. He soon recovered and has been gradually improving, and is now thought to be out of all danger. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 23, 1887 ALABAMA State News BULLOCK County News A.B. Cooper, 87 years old, died near Union Springs last week. --- JEFFERSON County News Joe Price was crushed to death by the cars at Birmingham last week. --- Jas. Chastler shot and instantly killed Hue Boyle at Coalburg one day last week. --- Bill Eldler is in jail at Birmingham for bursting open a trunk over his wife's head. --- COLBERT County News Fitzhue Thornton was accidentally killed at Tuscumbia last Saturday by Fred Alexander while fooling with a pistol. --- GREENE County News Louis Jordan, 16 years old, stabbed Gabe Coats in the heart with a barlow knife near Eutaw and killed him instantly, both negroes. --- MADISON County News Reed Townsend, a prisoner in the Huntsvulle jail murdered Tim Anderson with an iron bar while the latter was discharging his duty as an employee of the prison. --- LOWNDES County News "Uncle George" Shuford, one of the best known and most respected colored men about Hayneville, and who is nearly a centenarian, fell from his steps with a hatchet or chop axe in his hand and striking his face on it, inflicted an ugly wound, extending from his left eye to the cheek bone, which nearly cut his nose off. --- MORGAN County News On last Tuesday evening, Mrs. Sam Speegle, living near Falkville, was struck by lightning. She was at home, all alone, except her infant babe, which was asleep at the time the accident occurred. Mrs. Speegle was in the act of putting some bottles on the mantlepiece, on which was sitting a kerosene lamp filled with oil. A current of electricity ran down the chimney, broke the lamp, ignited the oil, which spattered in Mrs. Speegle's face and set her clothing on fire and also the house. Mrs. Speegle was not damaged by the lightning except in one foot which was badly mutilated, two toes were entirely cut off and the ankle bone so terribly injured that amputation may become necessary. Fortunately, Mr. Tabscott was passing the house at the time, and but for his presence, the house, unfortunate woman and innocent babe would all have been consumed by the fire. --- CALHOUN County Local News Died, Miss Lou Mattison, daughter of Mr. J.L. Mattison, in Jacksonville on Tuesday the 19th day of July 1887, after a long and painful illness. She was universally beloved in Jacksonville and her death has cast a shadow of sadness over the entire community. --- Misses Helen Adams and Mary Atkins of Hampton, Ga., are visiting their uncle Mr. David Atkins of this place. --- We learn by private letter from Baldwyn, Miss., that Mrs. Lennie B. Griffin, wife of Barton Griffin, formerly of this county, died at Baldwyn the 18th inst. She was seventy-three years of age at the time of her death. She was a consistent christian and a member of the Baptist church. --- TRIBUTE OF RESPECT IN THE MEMORY OF MATHEW M. PRICE, Who Departed This Life June 18, 1887 by Alexandria Lodge No. 208, F. & A.M. Whereas it was the will of our most Excellent Grand Master of the Universe to call our worthy brother from our temporal Lodge below to that celestial Lodge above, where all good Masons by faith hope to arrive; whilst by the strong ties of nature we are loath to give him up, yet, we are, as we learn from his last declarations, satisfied that our loss is his eternal gain, and we fully anticipate that we are in realization of our faith, that when the Lion of the Tribe of Judea shall have fully prevailed, his body will be raised as immortal as his soul. Bro. Price was made a Master Mason at our Lodge in the year 1865 and joined the Baptist church at Post Oak Spring the same year. While our brother was not entirely free from all imperfections in life, yet the older he grew, the more consistent and devoted he became in the course of the christian religion, and his place will be hard to fill. Our brother has gone from labor to refreshment where many bright lights preceded him, and the time is rapidly approaching when the Master's gavel will be sounded to call Alexandria Lodge, one by one, from labor to refreshment, and brethren, it should behoove each and every one of us, that we should be clothed in the whole panoply of a Mason and a Christian, that we may attain to the Sactum Sactorium where we believe our departed brother has gone. Resolved, that we, Alexdandria Lodge No. 208, wear the usual badge of mourning 30 days and that these proceedings be spread upon the records of the lodge and that the Jacksonville Republican be requested to publish the same, and a copy be sent to the bereaved family. B.G. McClelen W.P. Cooper, E.T. Clark, Committee ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 30, 1887 CALHOUN County Local News A few days ago, the sad news of the death of Judge Woods reached this place. He had died at his new home in Florida and his last wish was that his body be brought back to Jacksonville and interred amid a people who had long loved and honored him. When he determined to go to Florida it was a matter of deep regret to his friends here, for many then though that, at his advanced age, he would never live to return. But he could not be dissuaded and the gloomy forebodings of his friends proved but too true. According to his wish, his body was brought back to Jacksonville and buried in the cemetery here by the side of loved ones who had long preceded him. No man who ever lived in the county was so often and so constantly honored by the people of this county, and it may truly be said, no man was more universally popular. He was buried with every mark of respect and honor. ---- DEATH OF JUDGE WOODS; SKETCH OF HIS LIFE Jacksonville, Ala., July 27th Alexander Woods, formerly of this county, died yesterday morning at Ocala, Fla., aged 71 years. Judge Woods was a native of Tennessee, but came to this county from Georgia previous to 1840 and for some time, taught school. In 1844 he was elected tax assesor and tax collector. In 1848 he was elected clerk of the county court and recorder of deeds. In 1850 he was elected Probate Judge and held this office until 1874 when he was beaten for it by the late Hon. L.W. Cannon. In 1880 he was again elected to it. Defeated last year, he removed to Florida where he has since lived. His remains were brought here for interment. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, AUGUST 6, 1887 ALABAMA State News MARION County News Mr. Tom Ellis Robinson of near Bexar, this county, was killed by lightning, together with his horse while on his way to the picnic grounds at Smyrna church last Saturday. A heavy cloud coming up, he dismounted, taking the saddle from the horse, going under a tree on the roadside for shelter. The lightning struck the trunk of the tree just above his head, shivering it to atoms and instantly killing both the man and horse. The Marion County Herald ---- MARSHALL County News MURDER NEAR GUNTERSVILLE Aug. 3rd News has reached town that Newt Hammonds and Bunk Wells, both white, who reside about three miles from town, became involved in a difficulty yesterday and Hammonds shot and fatally wounded Wells, shooting him through the breast with a shotgun. No particulars, and no arrest made so far. --- CALHOUN County Local News Mrs. S.L. Stewart of Farmville, Texas is visiting relatives in Jacksonville. --- Mr. Alexander Woods, son of the late Judge A. Woods, has been spending some time visiting old friends in Jacksonville. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, AUGUST 13, 1887 GEORGIA STATE News HORRIBLE TRAGEDY; A Whole Family Butchered in their Beds Macon, Ga., Aug. 6th Information has just been received of a most horrible tragedy occurring last night, about twelve miles from here, this county. Reports say Captain Richard Woolfolk, a well known farmer, his wife, four children and Mrs. Weston, an aunt of Mrs. Woolfolk, were found murdered in the house this morning, having been knocked in the head and their throats cut. Tom G. Woolfolk, son of Capt. Woolfolk by his first wife, is suspected of the crime and was arrested. The deputy sheriff and coroner went out to the scene of the murders. Owing to the distance from the city all particulars cannot be had just now. Late and further details from the scene of the Woolfolk tragedy developed the fact that there were nine victims instead of seven as first reported. Capt. and Mrs. R.F. Woolfolk, their six children, ranging in ages from eighteen months to twenty years, and Mrs. Weston, an aunt of Mrs. Woolfolk, aged eighty years. The coroner's jury found a verdict of murder against Thomas G. Woolfolk, son of the Captain's first wife, who was sleeping in the house. His statement was that sometime before daybreak, he was aroused by groans and the sound of blows preceding from his parents' room. His half brother Richard ran into the room which adjoins his and thinking that a murder was being committed, he (Thomas) jumped from a window in his night clothes and ran to the house of a negro three or four hundred yards distant to get them to arouse the neighborhood. He says that he was afraid to return fearing that he himself would be murdered, but went back after half an hour. No help had arrived and he went in to see if the family had been murdered. He found them all dead. He stepped in a pool of blood in passing and left foot prints on the floor. He found his stepmother laying so that her head was on the floor and her body on the bed. He then changed his clothing. By this time a crowd had arrived and soon after he was taken into custody. The evidence before the jury was circumstantial throughout. The crowd continued to grow in size and indications pointed strongly to lynching. Sheriff Wescott told the jury to withold their verdict until he could get the prisoner away, and then making all the arrangements, slipped Woolfolk out of the house in a hurry, and drove away so rapidly that the crowd had hardly time to realize the departure. The prisoner was brought to Macon and safely lodged in jail, where he talked of the crime cooly but made no admissions. His motive is said to be a desire to gain possesion of his father's property for himself and his two sisters, children of the first wife. ----- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, AUGUST 20, 1887 GEORGIA STATE News KILLED BY HYDROPHOBIA After Using Mudstone Buchanan, Georgia, Aug. 14th Mr. Leonard Fullbright of this place died here of hydrophobia. He was bitten on the street near his home on the evening of the 2nd of June by what was supposed to be a rabid dog. He immediately went to Fairburn and was treated by Dr. Tidwell by having his mad stone applied to one of the wounds made by the dog, having been bitten on each hand and the right leg. He remained at Fairburn about a week receiving treatment and was thought to be effectually cured. He is said to have felt no symptoms of the dreadful malady until last Wednesday evening when an uneasy and strange feeling came over him. On Thursday morning he was thrown into convulsions and continued to have one after another until death relieved his sufferings at about seven o'clock this morning. Mr. Fullbright was a blacksmith and was upwards of seventy-five years of age. He was respected by all who knew him, having lived at Harttown in Carroll county for a number of years before he moved to this place, some ten years ago. He leaves a wife and several married children and one single daughter. ---- CALHOUN County Local News Mr. Andrew J. Richie, a well known and highly esteemed resident of this county, who lives at Alexander Mill place three miles west of Jacksonville, died suddenly Wednesday evening of apoplexy or paralysis. Only two or three days before he was in Jacksonville and was the picture of health. He was a member of the Knights of Honor Lodge of Jacksonville and that order will pay $2000. to his family. But nothing can compensate them for the loss of a kind husband and father. He was much esteemed and liked here. ---- Mr. Elisha V. Weaver of this place died of billious fever Wednesday morning and was buried with Masonic honors at the family burying ground five miles southwest of Jacksonville on Thursday. Mr. Weaver moved to Jacksonville about three years ago for the purpose of educating his children. During his sojourn here he made many friends. He was a quiet, unobstrusive and honorable gentleman and a devoted christian. His death was much deplored by all the people of Jacksonvbille and many of them followed his remains to the place of interment as a testimonial of their respect and regard for him. His wife and children have the deepest sympthy of all in this hour of bereavement. ---- NOTICE I desire to correspond with parties or their descendants who were in any of the old wars prior to 1855, viz: The Revolutionary, Mexican, Florida or any of the Indian Wars. Address: Emmett F. Crook, Jacksonville, Ala. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, AUGUST 27, 1887 ALABAMA State News From the "Talladega Home" newspaper, Talladega County, Ala: We note in the Jacksonville Republican that Mr. Andrew J. Richie died very suddenly with paralysis at his home three miles from Jacksonville on the 18th inst. Mr. Richey was well known and highly respected by many friends in this county. The first year of the War he enlisted as a private in the ?? Alabama Regiment in Dr. J. Johnson's company. He served one year in that regiment and then enlisted and was elected a commissioned officer in the 42nd Alabama in which regiment he served until the close of the hostilities. He was a true and faithful soldier and officer and was very popular with his companions and acquaintances. The writer of this knew him well in those days that tried men's souls, and he can truly say, that in the camp, in the field, he nobly and gallantly stood the test. Peace to his ashes! The Talladega Home ---- CALHOUN County Local News Married, recently, Mr. Alexander Woods of Florida and Mrs. Brent Clark, formerly of Selma, who has been a resident of Jacksonville the past two years. --- Mrs. Joe S. Montgomery of Hearn, Texas is visiting relatives in Jacksonville. --- TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO THE MEMORY OF ANDREW J. RICHEY By Banner Lodge No. 2816, Knights of Honor Jacksonville, Ala., Aug. 23rd Whereas, it has pleased the Supreme Dictator of the Universe to take from our fraternity our beloved brother Andrew J. Richey, leaving in our ranks a gap hard indeed to fill; Resolved, that we bow to the summons, and recognize in it a gain to our brother far beyond the loss to us, and that "death likes a shining mark", indeed, and that none brighter could be presented from our band than the stricken one. Resolved, that we tender to the two weeping boys, sons of our brother, our heartfelt sympathies, and that we assure them that ever they have in Banner Lodge a strong protector, adviser, guardian and friend, which stands ready at all times, to serve them in either capacity. Resolved, that a copy of these sentiments be tendered the orphan boys, that the Republican be requested to publish them, that a blank page be set aside, in our records upon which our brother's name shall be inscribed, and that the order badge of mourning be worn by the brethren for thirty days. C.H. Montgomery J.Y. Henderson J.J. Skelton, Committee ---- MACK Community News Miss Helen Wilson of Jenifer is visiting her sister Mrs. W.F. Corley. --- Mr. and Mrs. A. Dickinson went to Eastaboga last week to attend the burial of Mr. Richey, brother of the latter. They have the sympathy of this community in their bereavement. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 10, 1887 CALHOUN County Local News LETTER FROM A MEXICAN WAR VETERAN Letter from G.D. Cunningham of Eulaton, Ala., Calhoun County, Sept. 5, 1887 About the middle of May 1846 news reached us that Gen. Taylor was in danger of being pushed by the superior force of the Mexican Army. The President of the United States made a call for volunteers to protect Taylor from the army of occupation and the citizens of Texas who were threatened by the government of Mexico. Such excitement and anxiety never prevailed in the county. Companies were raised and ample facilities given to transport relief to Gen. Taylor's army. And in less time than a month, the 1st Alabama Regt. reported to Taylor on the ground for duty. The excitement subsided, thus giving us an opportunity to drill and prepare ourselves for the duties of a soldier. We remained on the river some months and then we were ordered up to Caurargo, four or five hundred miles. We were struck with the great contrast between ours and that country in many respects. The size of the timber and their leaves, the kind of timber had its fruit, the kind of birds and their songs, the manner of houses and their dress, but above all their fencing and means of farming. Strange as it might appear it is nevertheless true, that one never saw a rail fence around their patches, posts were driven up and a pole laid on top and then thorny bushes leaned up on either side. This protects from every occasion. Their houses were covered with tile or long grass that does very well in a dry, hot country. They plant their corn by inserting a stick in the ground and depositing the seed. I never saw a plow used in Mexico. They have no plank and use no rules. Their floors are dirt. The roofs of their houses were flat. I never saw a chimney in all our travels. They make coal of the small timber to cook with and carry things to town on their pack mules. They eat today what was cooked yesterday. They never eat hot food. They make coffee that grows in the woods. They make their own sugar and eat no hog meat. Their principal meat is beef and mutton. Their boil their potatoes, peas and cabbage all together and make a thick soup. If they have bread, they make a sour light bread. All their labor is light and they are small eaters. The young boys employ their time in throwing the lariats and they become very expert. The chief items of trade are oranges, lemons, pineapples, ?? and hides. Let me pass on to the battle of VeraCruz and to that famous castle, San Juanduelle. After we were detached from Gen. Taylor to Gen. Scott at VeraCruz, we we were situated to that point and when we were in sight, it occurred to me what I had read concerning that famous impregnable fortress, but I did not expect to see it constructed on a made foundation, a thousand yards from the city with a wall nine feet thick and mounted with four hundred cannons; nor did I expect to see the city covered with moss and all with flat roofs. When we neared the shore we could see nothing but beds of white sand, white as snow, and the clusters of prickly pears, which grew to the height of fifteen feet. After a dead silence of three days, Gen. Scott summoned the enemy to surrender. When they refused, our batteries of guns opened fire on the city of VeraCruz and the fire was returned by the city. The Navy then opened also on the city. The castle opened on our breast works, shooting over the city, but not knowing the distance, their shots were not effective. The firing continued during the night. The night scene was sublime, mixed with shock of horror at the screams and lamentations of the sufferers. We could see the bombs with their fuse flying with rainbow curve, and descending behind the walls of the city, and hear them explode, sending death and carnage in every direction. On the morning of the 25th of March, a large white flag was suspended on the walls of the castle and city, and the firing ceased. They surrendered 7,000 troops, 600 cannons and all their public stores; what a contrast. The evening before all was hostility, now all in friendship and trade. When we entered the city we could see what havoc our cannons had done. I would not attempt to enumerate the dead animals that had to be removed from the city, that the people for all miles around had brought to the city for safety. G. D. Cunningham ---- LETTER FROM G.D. CUNNINGHAM to The Washington Vedette newspaper: An old comrade, G.D. Cunningham of Eulaton, Calhoun county, Alabama sends to the Vedette this letter, asking earnestly that we publish the following letter: " Mr. Kenaday, I complied with your request and filled out a blank sent me from Washington and was proud of the compliment but did not give my known friend a power of attorney to get his fee. My dear comrade, I am in a deplorable condition, with cancer in my face and eyes, one eye gone, and can see but little with the other. I must send you a line, though my friends have tried to stop me. But I must say a few words to my friends, the Secretary of the National Association and a word to the veterans of the 1st Alabama Volunteers, who boasted that they were the flower of the State, that they belonged to families of honorable men. What I wish to say to you is this: The reason our boys have not done more to aid the Assocation is that they had no faith in getting justice while the ruling power exhibited such bitter feelings toward the South. But as for our Secretary, and what he has done for the vets, they are highly pleased. I have heard praises going up from widows and their friends to the Secretary for his persistent efforts in their behalf and in behalf of his comrades. I now send you seven dollars. If this does not square us, you must wait until I draw again. i wish to say to you that I like your pluck, and that all you have done I think was done at the right place and at the right time. I now wish to address my old comrades from the 1st Alabama Volunteers: " You all know me. I have never seen a dollar of my money paid the Secretary published. If you have also been standing off with folded arms while he has been hunting and killing the bear, you will now come in with a yell that "We have got him!, and bring in your claims for a share of the booty! You will draw a pension, doubtless, as long as you live; and you will not count up what incidental expenses the Secretary has had to pay from his own resources to procure the passage of the pension bill for his comrades. I want to feel assured that he be paid in full for the Vedette. Now let us see what the Secretary has done toward getting the bill passed. He has shown through his paper from month to month, and year after year, keeping it continually before Congress and the people, that it was the will of two thirds of the people of the United States that we should be punished. That the army of Mexico had gained 1,000,000 square miles of territory and opened up communications from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and also showed Congress and the people by statistics the vast amounts of gold and silver derived from this million acres of land, amount to three billions of dollars, more than enough to cancel the national debt, the States' and county debts and all the pensions for other wars. He has had to meet and refute, by hunting up documentary evidence, every tory charge that was hurled against the Mexican War by our lying and unscrupulous enemies. He has tried to reach every lost strayed Mexican war veteran and bid them to be of good cheer and advise them what course to pursue in preparing their applications, and called them together to renew old acquaintances and help one another. Who else would have done so all these years but our Secretary? He has had to furnish his own outfit, at his own risk. Who of you will not help? As for my part, I can do but little. I will try to pay for my paper at least. I have had only one draw, but will not be here to make another, I fear. Yours truly, G.D. Cunningham, aged 69 years. ----- CALHOUN County Local News Continued The negro Joe Hall, who killed Mr. R.E. Lewis of Cross Plains a few days ago by a blow from a thrown brick, was captured at Rockmart and brought to jail here by way of Atlanta. It was said that the people about Cross Plains who greatly esteemed Mr. Lewis, were much excited over the event and the bringing of the negro here by way of Atlanta was a precautionary measure to prevent lynching. It is said that Tuesday night, quite a body of mounted men came into Jacksonville and after looking around the streets awhile, went away, firing pistols in the suburbs of town. As he is duty bound, the sheriff had taken all measures necessary to protect his prisoners from violence. We can symapthise with the feelings of the friends and relatives of Mr. Lewis, but at the same time do not hesitate to say that this is no case for lynch law. The courts are amply able to punish for the crime and common observation teaches us that juries are not slow to punish. ---- INFORMATION WANTED - - - Mattie Coody, my daughter, left my house without my permisson or any provocation and is strolling about the country. She left on the 22nd day of August 1887. DESCRIPTION: Light complected, sandy hair, stout build, weights 130 to 140 pounds, about 14 years old. I would be very thankful for any information concerning her whereabouts. Nancie Dennis, Jenkins, Ala. --- Mr. J.B. Williams of this place died Thursday after a lingering illness. He had been in bad health for years. Lately he took to much calomel and was badly salivated. This with general indigestion broke him completely down. He was an industrious and worthy man. He leaves a mother and a wife and children who were almost wholly dependent on him for support. They have the sympathy of this community in this their sad hour of bereavement. ---- The case against Abe Sams, John Broughton, Sam Lanham (white) and Charlotte McClelen (colored), charged with setting fire to the home of Julia Buchanan about the 6th of April this year, occupied three days of the Court this week and attracted a very large number of people from the country, owing to the standing and respectability of most of the parties involved. A man named Turner, a son-in-law of Sams, turned State's evidence and recited a full history of the crime. On the other hand, all the defendants proved an alibi and also proved a good character by any number of the most respectable men of the county. The jury that tried the case were an exceptionally intelligent body of men. As we go to press, no verdict has been returned. ---- (NOTE: There are several missing newspaper issues not filmed for the microfilm roll for SEPT. 1887) --------- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/newspapers/newspape1140gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 37.3 Kb