Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-08
LETTER FROM BRADFORD C0UN-
TY, FLORIDA.
The Parchfng Drought Empty
Larders-TrRgie End OF a Drunken
Spree-A Fine Country for OrGnges
and Vegetables - Death nom
Measles,

SANTA FE, FLA, September 1.-EditoT Morn.
ing Neaos: Allow me to intrude upon your time
ana space that the world at large may know
what this portion of Bradford county Is doing.
something of her soil health, crops and re-
sources generally.
we nave Just passed through and are stIlF
suffering from the effects, of one of The sever.
est and most injurious droughts that has vis.
tied this section for ten years. Cotton bas
shed all Of its top fruit, or that which has
formed since the first of August. Half.grown
| bolls are prematurely opening, thereby causinp,
| poor lint, which viii sell for a still poorer.
price. But picking has commenced in real
earnest; and the general complaint is scarcity
| of handS
Corn was almost a failure this year. and
next year the farm ers will have to draw sup
plies from their ives srn cribs" that they
may make ano, her crop, and the next year it
| Will be the san
oh. ye farme 81 when will you learn to plant
eorn-neids and cotton patches and raise
npss, that your larderS may overflow with
raiogS dog ,,s,l anu noInlny, and peace and plenty
reign supreme. Methinks the echo answers
Ialntly never, but let us ''live in hone II wa
die IN despair, al remember the old maxin'
Trying once you don't succeed, try, try.
Quite tragic affair occurred in our vicinity
last SUI day morning, resulting in the Cearh ~
@DahieI @ WATSON, colored man, living about
TWO miles from here. The particulars as near
as can ascertain, are about as follows: Sat
urday night the colOred population in Waldo
anu vicinity gave an entertainment, or Fair
as they term 1t, and this negro, as usual was
IN attendance, considerably under the Influence
OF alcohoi, and for some cause. l did not learn
What assaulted his wife'S sister and hel. daIpI.-
ter with pocket knIe, infiicting numerous
gashes across their shoulders and arms The
next morning several negro men, including the
husband and son of the wounded woman an
pied TO the Magistrate at Waldo rcr a yvarrant
60 arrest him, and Were. for some cause, re-
FUSED, but were told to arrest him and keep
would be isused. They at once proceeded in
search of him, and failing to find him
at nome, they proceeded to Mr. Henry Halls
residence, and, ere he aware of their
presence, had crept upon him. He at once
ran Tor the house to get gun which he knew
Mr.. Hall kept; but, as he was entering the
door, young man inside closed the door. and
ne (Watson) looked back to see what they were
doing and received a load of buckshot in his
face, neck and forehead. which at once ren-
dered him hOrS du combat. Death ensued in
thirty minutes.
The parties participating in the affair have
not oeen arrested YET, and it is supposed will
not not be, as Watson was a bad negro. and had
tew friends He was very well educated and
was in the Republican political business -
ana mas gone where good Republicans CO.
plorable NV NS
Orange trees are growing finely, notwisl,
standing the very dry drout,'' which fact
speaks well fer the adaptability of the soil to
that purpose, and those in search of homes
would do well to visit these parts before pur-
chasing elsewhere. One considerable item In
growing oranges is transportation, for nothing
much can be done without transportation and
the Transit Railroad, which traverses this sec
ton, furnishes all that is required in that re-
spect.
Vegetables can also be grown to success here.
as the soil is light, fertile and very productive,
For example GefeF se$ scarcely eyer INJURIES them
from pond on the land of Mr.. P TerrSs si
seed Of which was planted three years ago.
The cold snap of last winter cid it no injury.
and it was the coolest weather known in this
county for years. MIR. T. has also fine young
orange grove.
Mr.. j ID. Jeffofds has resigned his situation
as Road Master on the Transit Road, and will
go to the Florida Tropical Road. Mr. j. is an
able and efficient rairoader, and will be missed
on this road. having been in their employ eight
years. He viii be succeeded oy AlT. Chandler
Martin.
:, Mr.; A; 7 Lee, Section Master at this place,
died last Sunday night, after an illness of two
weeks, from the effects of measles
This county cannot be excelled in health. I
have not heard of a single case of chills and
fever thissummer, except a few cases imported
from elsewhere. OCCASIONAL