davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Explained at Last.

The Ashevil'e Pioneer says in expla.
nation o. the Bald Mountain mystery,
that in 1862 a man named Gillen, a Con-
sderate soldier, who was home on fur
lngh, chased fox into cavern In the
mountain, and built fire in the same
to smoke him out. He passed the place
three weeks afterwards and the fire,
whfh was still burning, had penetrated
the mountain further than the eve could
see. His furlough having expired, he
went back to the army. After the sur
render at Appomatox, curiosity prompt
ed him TO visit the spot. Much to his
surprise, he heard an indistinct roaring
in the very bowels Of the mountain,
and putting his head to the month Of
the cavern, he inhaled the gas from burn.
ing coal. He is of opinion that the
whole mountain is one vast coal bed
This is the most plausible theory yet
advanced, as there is little doubt that
tie entire mountain range in the direc-
ton Of North Carolina, including Chill.
howee ard the Big Smoky, carries heavy
deposits OF .oal. These deposits may he
located attoo sreat depth to lie work
ed probably at present, but they will
come into play in due time. TIE asser-
ton Of biologists that the Chlhowee
is be yond the coal formation. is sot well
grounded, and we venture the opinion
that in less than ten years the article
will be largely exported from tht point.
1t may be mentioned in connection
with the last Dald Mountain story, that
a fire broke out In the Empire mine,
near Wilkesbarre, Pa, about thefirst of
January, and is still raging. 1t extends
over an area Of 1900 yards, ant is ex-
tending its ravagcs despite tho eforts OF
five hundred men employed dy and
night in trying to subdue it. A cores
pondent of the New York Hcratl who
recently visited the burning mass likens
it to the place prepared for tle devil
and his angels" and says 1T sanighty
conflagration, to be fought will water
irch by inch for years and vars to
come; for, while The edges nay be
cooled, its roaring centre is gradually
finding its way downward, 10 one
knows to what unseen depths"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
The Latest Snake Story.

The Charleston, South Carolina,
News lie responsible for the follow
ing:
Mr.. J. II. Brockington, Of Black
Mingo, Williamsburg county, is respon-
sible for the following snake story: "A
dog belonging to colored man, while
trying to catch large aud ferocious
hog, was cut or bit by the hog on the
left side just below the ribs, and out oil
the orifce made by the hogs teetl,
crawled two large snakes. One was
alive and apparently in perfect health
The other was severed or cut in two by
the hogs teeth, and of course was dead.
The color. was bright, red-stripped
with k!dc intermiXed. They were
about three feet six inches long and two
inches in circumference. They were
snakes in every particular. The dog Is
living and in its usual condition.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
The Little Giant.

The Bristol Courier in noticing that
a semi.annual dividend Of 8 per cent
had been declared by the East Tennes-
see, Virginia and Georgia Railroad,
says:
The Directors of tho Virginia &
Tennessee Cor Atlantic, Mississippi n
Ohio Road, have not divided anything
yet, aud, from what we hear, nre not
likely to do 90 soon. The employees
of tho road are not paid regularly--the
road Is now some four or five months be.
hind with them. Payments are made
In provisions and in bonds. The bonds
are payable in two years, and not trans.
ferrable, and bear 6 per cent. interest -
The Little Giant" should do better, or
people will naturally come to the con-
clusion that he is not the railroad man
he is cracked up 10 be.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
The Crusade---Its Failure.

The ST. Louis Republican Of the 81
had a well considered article on the late
Temperance Crusade and It's failure.
We have room only for the closing por-
iion
THE only original feature al the cru
SADIE now Fastening 10 its close, Is the
introduction OF PRAYER sfaoug thu ont.
! door exercises. We presume tha, the
Christians people who have taken part la
thasc exercises would be shocked " they
thought their action was an argument
against their own Faith in prayer. Yet
I IL Is nothing less Ii there Is an efficacy
IN the petitions 10 the Supreme Being.
| they win avail ~ much when offered IN
/ the church, as In the closet, or in the
middle of n crowded street, or among
the rabble Of dram shop. The great
lIearer aud Auswerer OF prayer does
not surely need such incongtnous sur
roundings as these 10 induce Him to
bend listening ear aud return favor
able response to Ills suppliant children.
Yet sincerely religious men and wo-
men have deemed IL their iuiy TO TINS
draw together the sacred aud The pro.
! fame. aud literally drag holy things in
the mire. While the novelty of this
strange method lasted, some shoft.livcd
rerorma'ions were accomplished but as
soon as Il ceased 20 he a novelty II ccas.
ed TO have any effect, except 10 arouse
the vile passions and unloose the vile
tongues of The mob. We do not qaes.
ton the perfect purity Of purpose oftho
crusaders. vet we fear they have aono
more harm than good. There ought to
be some shadow Of sanc,ity hedging
about ms It were. the domain of PRAYER
but they have nnwittinelv helped tn
destroy H. There ought 10 be an abd-
ing confidence IN the power OF PRAYER
but the lame aud impotcnt conclusion
Of tho movement IN which PRAYER is The
main element has, in the estimation of
the community at large, seriously nm
dermined that confidence. The only
consolation to he derived from the serio-
comical exhibitions of the past few
weeks, is the probability that their nc.
knowledged failure will prevent arepc-
tition OF them"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
The Second District.

The prospect for a lively time In the
Second District between the friends of
Col. Thornburgh and Judge Houk Is
increasing. The Loudor Journal and
Maryville Republican seem inclined to
favor the pretensions OF the latter while
Thornburgh appears 10 be without n
special advocate among the newspapers
of the District. II we except, perhaps.
an occasional kind word from the Press
and Herald, though he is said TO have a
good many earnest friends at work
among the people. AS The Republican
candidate for Governor will most like
y be taken from Middle Tennessee-in
the person Of DR.. w. p. Jones, of Da-
wilson county-it is not impossible the
Hon. Horace Maynard may take no.
ton to remain in Congress while long.
er. in which case the respective friends
of Messrs. Thornburgh and Houk would
at once be relieved of any further anx.
iety and labor on taeir account. Indeed,
ii is now said by an intimate friend Of
Mr. Maynard's, that he never seriously
entertained the idea OF becoming a can
didatc for Governor lie regards the
contest for that position as doubtful un-
der the best condition likely to arise,
and even if the chances of success were
certain, he would prefer to remain in
Congress as the more eligible point for
future promotion, rather than to end his
public career in the State Capitol at
Nashville. The election, wo believe. is
some six months ahead, and there will
be ample time and opportunity for the
friends Of Thornburgh and IIouk to get
up state oflhings in the District which
will make Maynard's entrance into the
contest an apparent necessity. He has
done much for Knoxville and its sur
roundings, and if he wants the race will
have but little difficulty in disposing Of
the other aspirants.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Ohio.

CINCINNATI April 1.-The Democrats
were triumphant In tho city elections
on Yesterday by majority of about
1000. They will have majority OF
about ID on joint ballot in The City
Council. Columbus has gone Demo
cratic by 1900. The election at Evans
vile, Ind, resulted In Democratic
victory.
AT Dayton tho election passed off
quietly. An unusually large voIc was
cast. The Democrats elected Mayor
aud their city ticket. The Republicans
have n majority In the council aud
school board. Piqua elects an anti-cru-
SADIE ticket The council Isl tic.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
The Middle Man.

Some Of our farmer friends who have
joined the Grange movement may be
interested in the following notice,
which we clip from the first number of
Brother Charlton's Outlook;
"In the course of two or three weeks
there will be established in this city
Knoxville an East Tennessee Grange
Agency. It's business will be to effect
purchases, in the way of supplies, for
.he members Of the Oranges Of this part
of the State. II will buy at wholesale
rates their sugar, coffee, salt, molasses,
their agricultural! implements, sewing
machines, &c.
In the meantime il will facilitate sales
of produce with the oranges Of the
South by bringing the producer and
consumer into direct contact"
Thus it will be seen that Knoxville
is to be the Middle Man Of East Tenncs-
see, who will do all The buying and all
the selling for such rs are fortunate
enough TO belong to the brotherhood.
The plan may work well for somebody,
but how the farmers of McMinn arc to
be benefited, their stock improved, and
the productive capacity of their lands
increased by paying parties at Knox
Vile to attend to business which they
can better manage themselves, is one OF
those difficult problems which no one
but Granger is expected to be able to
solve. Still it may turn out a pretty
good thing for Knoxville, in the build
ing up of which We are all more or less
Interested.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Murdered and Robbed

The following appears in the Nash
vile Union and American Of tie 9Th.
1t may be an exaggeration, q even
something worse:
Recent a,iviccs from Texas gvc the
details Of a terrible crime committed in
that State by a young Tennessean.-
Among the passengers on the stage
running between Fort Worth andJacks-
boro, n few days ago, were Charl,s Gen
try, son of the late Hon. Mereteth p
Gentry, and wealthy MissouriaD nam
ed Shire. Gentry evinced considerable
anxiety 10 establish intimate relations
with Shire, but his advances we're in
every instance repulscd. BY a sudden
change of tactics, Gentry attempted to
bring about an alteration, but filled
also in this, as tho other party seemed
determined to avoid trouble. Finally,
an insulting epithet and blow in hc
mouth brought the Missourian to his
feet, with the remark that if Gentry vas
spelling for fight he could step out on
the road. The driver was ordered to
stop and the two dropped behind the
stage. A shot was heard and the team
dashed off at full speed. Ono of the
passengers looked back and saw Gentry,
pistol in hand, bending over Shire, who
was stretched upon his back in the rpad.
When the team had run about half n
mile, the passenger drew bead on the
driver and threatened to shoot him
through the head unless he turned and
went back to Shire's assistance. When
they reached Shire he was breathing his
last. An ugly hole in his temple told
how the deed of blood had been done.
His pccketbook, which was known to
have contained $500 in currency, and
his travelling satchel were not to be
found. Gentry had fed after having
robbed the person Of his victim.--
Though pursuit was made soon after
ward, the young murderer succeeded in
escaping into Mexico.
Gentry was born and reared in this
county, on Stones river about nine
miles from Nashville. He went 10 Tex
as about year and half ago, and had
been leading o wild, desperate life.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
City aud Country.

The Columbia Herald and Mail pub
fishes the Memphis "twcnty cents me-
mortal of Robertson Topp, with the fol.
lowing by way OF Introduction:
Several months ago we asserted that
If the honest yeomen ofthe country did
not take an interest in politics. our State
would be given over to Radicals and
plunderers. Every day confirms the
iruthfulncss Of this assertion. The large
cities are corrupt, aud can be bought as
readily as their merchandise. We have
more respect for Radicals than so called
Conservatives of the cities, who will
combine with any faction in order to
get place, power and pelf: and sell their
votes and influence for government pst.
ronage. The following address "To the
People &c Tennessee is signed by largo
property owners OF Memphis. whose
political principles consist in the best,
spcediest and most certain plan to
double their wealth. What care such
men for the honor and credit of the
State! They pirate loudly about the
'exorsitant rates oftayaiion,' and vet we
are reliably informed. some Of the veal
thiest among them. signers of this adj
dress, have refused for years TO pay their
State taxes, until now they amount TO
tens OF thousands Of dollars-takng ad-
vantage Of legal technicalites. They arc
nice fellows TO be complaining of the
burdens &C !axationr 1t is thought
that political frebrand, Emerson Eth
eridge, wrote the address,"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
MCNLinn County.

The Worshipful County Court was in
quarterly session on Monday. Among
other business transacted, the Court APP
propriatcd $3.50 to build bridge across
the Conasauga at the Widow Cookies
farm. Also, made an appropriation
and appointed Commissioncrs--to drain
the pond and repair the road, in front
of Col. Keith's residence, on the route
leading to Cedar Springs Camp Ground.
'Plis pond has been public nuisance
for Wong time, and we are glad to know
that IT is about TO disappear. An APP
preparation was made and The Chair
man of the Court instructed to purchase
the necessary tools to be used in work
ing the county roads. A number of
cverseers were appointed, and liberal
appropriations made for the benefit of
panpcrs.
There was an unusually large crowd
in town throughout the day, but no
drunkenness or disturbance fany kind
was observable about the streets. The
population of McMinn, we take plea.
sure In adding will compare favorably
with that Of any county in the State.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Pennsylvania.

The meeting of the Philadelphia Con.
ference of Baptist ministers has been
held at which resolutions woro present
ed by DR.. Hanson, strongly opposing
open communion. An amendment was
offered by DR.. Boardman, favoring this,
but was voted down. Tho business
OF voting upon the original resolutions
was then postponed until the next meet
ing. They will doubtless carry II by q
large majority.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
New Schedule.

The Knoxville Press and Herald OF
Tuesday says;
The night passenger trains will be
placed on the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia Railroad, on Sunday, April
10Th. The new schedule Is not COM
plctod, but it is ascertained that the
mail passenger trains will arrive at
Knoxville within few minutes of the
following hours: mail and passenger
train going east, II m; mail and passen.
ger train going west, ut 1880 q. NJ.
Passenger train going cast, ut 4 q. m F.;
passenger train going west AZ III p. m.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Twas the Cats DOings.

This cat story Ia from the Oil City
Derrick: The cat lives IN q respectable
family, whose names we withhold for
the sake of the cat. The feline referred
to was considered, until lately, n moral
and respectable pussy, but q new cook
came 10 the house. since which tho cats
morals have sadly dcgenerated. This
cat has been known to take tho key
from the cooks pocket Mt night, unlock
tho pantry door build fire, invite some
friends and feast them on the good
things belonging TO her master. The
time usually selected for these pranSs is
Sunday evening, after the folks are all
asleep. The antics Of the animal are
fully vouched for by tho cook who Ia
good looking, respectable girl.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
The Connecticut Elections.

The election has resulted in sweep.
ing Democratic victory. The returns
received give Ingersol plurality Of
$3.50 over Harrison, Republican, and
a majority of 1869. Smith, the pro.
hibitory candidate, received little over
1000. Tie Senate stands sixteen Dem.
Gratis to five Republicans, and the House
is heavily Democratic.
A later date says: Ingersol's major.
ity in the State is not far from 1900
The Senate stands IL Democrats to 4
Republicans and the House l43 Demo.
Gratis to 96 Republicans, and 2 Independ,
cnts.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
California.

The old line Democracy OF California
held q Convention at Sacramento last
week, and adopted resolutions denounc-
ing the Administration, declaring the
independent party of tho State failure,
and advising Democrats who Joined
them TO return to their allegiance and
adhere to tho party in tho future ms the
only hope Of saving the country. In
dependent partyism doesn't seem to be
making much progress anywhere.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Innovation.

A correspondent Of The Manchester
Democrat, urges that the jury system be
abolished as n matter OF reform and
retrenchmcni, or that the expense
incurred for jurymen be collected from
ltigants as part Of the costs. lie even
hints at abolishing the distinction be.
tween law and equity, leaving all civil
cases TO DO decided by the Judge.
Cincinnati quotes Bacon nj 676@0ls
Chattanooga, Sls@ll.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Another lIeircss!

Ninety.nine years ago tho father Of
DR.. Mark, who is tho father of young
miliner now in ST. Joseph, Missouri
leased eighty acres of land In New York
city for ninoty.nine years. The lease
has expired, DR.. Mark Is dead, and the
milliner is tho only living heir. The
proyerty is worth Sl70O0,0O0.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
AtInmin Market. .

ATLANTA, GA, April o, 1874.
Corn. white D3aDi Oats, G5a1s. Bacon, ~
for shoulders; clear sides, i0aleIt, hams 1917
al0lI. Lard, l0ifai09t. Ruttor. 57ai0. Eggs,
iial5. Corn Meal, ~. Flour, 800 10 1000.
Corn. stocks heavy, market quiet nj quota
lions; Meat higher, but holders anu buyers
are apart--clear sides, however. IN demand.
Rwp'y, STEPHENS q FLYNN
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10

The communication from the 18th dis
trict OF Monroe county shall have n
place next week, We like TO read the
inspirations of that wild and rugged
region. They generally possess a fresh
ness and boldness of thought aud
originality which one rarely meets with
from other directions.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
co w w u no CHAI..
Athem . Market.

ATHENS. April o, 1874.
Wheat, duh and lower, Loaf 30 for choice,
Corn O0aGD, Flour 40 for family New Bacon,
~ cts dull hog ronud, Lard, In tin cans y cts;
Butter, 20; Eggs, 10. Men! %; Hay. 81 90 per
100: lbs, Oats, 80 for seed, Feathers, live
geese, 30; Reoswax, %; Rags, 2 cents; Irish
Potatoes, Tjal.b0. Sweet Potatoes, Is.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Railroad Meeting I'm Monroe.

We learn there was large and en-
thusiastic railroad meeting held at Mad
isonville last Monday, ID. w. Lattimer
presiding. The recent survey from
Sweetwater to Tellico Plains missed
Madisonville, the shire town of Mon
roe, by about two miles, and the people
Of that place are anxious to have the
limo changed so as to approach them q
little closer A proposition was sub.
mitted to the Worshipful Court for a
county subscription OF $4,000, which
Of course the Court couldn't entertain,
but on order was passed, as we are in-
formed, referring the question of sub
scription to vote Of the people of the
county.
The enterprise in question is prize
TO be commended for, though il is hardly
worth while 10 cultivate any undue OK
pectations on tho subject. Engineer
Johns and his assistants are now at work
10, this vicinity. We have no special
authority for saying so, but presume
several lines will DO run before tho route
10 finally determined, and whichever Of
fers the greatest Inducements in the
matter, of stock, mineral interests and
the ohoapnoss of construction will be
selected We have talked with some Of
the solid men Of Athens, aud don't be-
lieve they could DO induced TO invest
more than fifty thousand dollars in the
projected enterprise. IL our friends at
Swcetwater mud jacksonville will sec
that amount and go'ilfty thousand bet
ter, they may secure the location, though
even then we think tho company would
act unwisely if IL failed to adopt the
route direct from Tcllico to Athens. We
regret we didn't havc reporter present
at MadiSonvillc on Monday.
Chattanooga quotes Cornat 75N76 on
wharf; 70@S0 In depot
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Rice Culture i'm North Georgia,

=
A Cherokee correspondent of tho Car
tersvile Sentinel writes ont a years ex.
perience in rice culture. He knew moth.
ing about the cultivation of the plant,
and therefore fell into two or three
grave errors. lie planted too late, pu,
five grains where their should have been
but one, and did not irrtate, although
q part Of his crop was planted on table
land but the result, nevertheless, cx-
cceded his expectations. Cut down in
the dough it makes the best of forage
Stock of all kind are very fond Of it, fol
il is better than the best Northern hay
Three pecks will plant an acre for for
age crop.
Besides the forage, Mr.. kirkpatrick
threshed ont sixty bushels of rice, which
was twice as much as he could have
made from the land if it had been plant.
cd in corn. With his present experience
he is confident of doubling the crop
of last year. The rough rice can be
hulled bya machine as simple as cof'
fce-mill. Damp land or any land that
can be irrigated will produce rice hand
somely in North Georgia.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Polk County.

The following resolutions were pass
ed by the Friendship Baptist Church OF
Polk county. Tennessee, in business con-
ference, 18th day Of April, A. d., 1870:
Resolved, That this Church acknow-
lodges herself under obligations to AT.
torneys j. II. Gaut and VIM. {. Brad
ford for the able and diligent manner in
which they have represented her inter-
ests in the Toomcy will case, through
the Ci:,uit, Chancery and Supreme
Courts at charges so very moderate.
Resolved, That we cordially recon-
mend them TO the patronage of all reli.
gious bodies, which may need able
counselors in law, as high-toned, hon
'Orable gentlemen.
Resolved, That these resolutions be
sent to the Athens Post for publication,
with request for the Cleveland Ban
ner to copy. Y. DENTON,
Minister in Charge.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Improved Hay Press.

A firm at Athens has purchased the
right for an improved Hay Press, and
will go at once into their manufacture.
1t is said to be the best press ever intro
duccd In this country, and wo are con-
fidcpt II viii! meet with ready sale. Our
farmers are paying more attention to
the grasses, aud by putting the product
In proper shape for transportation they
will be able TO realize handsome profit
on II.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10

The Baltimore American announces
that from Monday, the 9th instant, tho
price per single copy will be raised to
four cents, and subscribers IN the city
be served at twenty.four cents per week.
The yearly subscriptions by mail will DO
raised 10 twelve dollars per annum.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10

Father Ballew, Baptist preacher Of
many years standing, died suddenly In
Blount county last Friday night. His
age Is given nj So.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10
Atheus 2ost.
Athens, Friday, April 10, 1874.
Standardization.

Gold, New York, l13h. Tennessee
Bonds, SSA for old, So for the new is
sue. Cotton, firm a, II for middling.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-10

Gen. Jackson once told Secretary Bu-
chanan that no knew n man in Tcnncs-
see who made q fortune by attending 10
his own business. History has left us
in the dark AS 10 tho name Of the lucky
gentleman referred to, but we are quito
certain no has but fow relatives living
in this immediate neighborhood.