davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
TENNESSEE LAND.
PitIkburR Owners Getting Ont
Suits of FjectmRnt against
SqUatters.

PITTsBURo, March BIN 1869 a
party OF Pittsburgers went to Tennes-
see and bought land, receiving State
patents for So 900 acres in the northern
part of the State. They paid but ten
cents an acre for the land. and con
cluded to let it rest at that until time
should enhance its value. In the in
tervening years squatters have taken
privileges, and quite a number have
possession. The matter was placed in
the hands of young lawyer in Knox
vile, and he kept the taxes paid S. a
year, for 1000 acres, and performed
the duties of guardian of the tract.
He recently sent a notice to this city
upon the sale of 1000 acres through
him by their owner a Mr.. Williams,
that the squatters had refused to
recognize any ownership to the prop
erty other than their own, would not
move off or permit the sale, and
claimed they had been there the
twenty.o one years which gave them by
common law right and title to all
they had confined. It's necessary il
order that the land be made purchas
able that they be elected. For this
purpose papers are now being prepared
by A. w. Watson, prominent Pitts.
burg lawyer, and suits of ejectmcnt
will soon be brought in the United
States Court at Knoxville against
these squatters. The tract lies near
to that owned by the Rugby colony,
established by Thomas Hughes, and
the Cincinnati Southern railroad
passes by within a short distance. At
Rugby there has been erected large
blast furnace, and iron and metal are
being manufactured from ore taken
from the land adjoining the piece in
dispute. The coal used is also mined
on the slme property, and every rule
of geology would say the same pro-
ducts can be found on the $4,000 acre
tract. Valuable timber covers a large
part Of it, which is another unit Of
value added to the property. W. j.
Ramsey, a well known railroad man,
owns 10000 acres Of the block. Mrs.
G. w. Carpenter, of Allegheny, owns
5000, and the balance is held by others
whose names are withheld. A rail-
road was surveyed through the prop.
erty, last summer, from Wheeling,
West Virginia, to Chattanooga, Tenn,
This line will soon be built, aud is
owned by parties in Titusville, Brad
ford, Oil City, Meadville and Frank
lin. the majority Of whom are, or
we're, interested in the Standard Oil
Company. The legal battle will be
interesting.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
The Fate of Ancient Weather
Prophet.


The career of Virgins calls to mind
the punishment which Dean Swift
and some of his friends inflicted
upon a weather prophesying imposter
in Queen Anne's time, known as Par
fridge, the almanac maker. Partridge
began life as a shoemaker; but he
soon left that for the more profitable
and less laborious pursuits Of quaek,
prophet and humbug generally. His
pretensions imposed on credulous peo-
pie and his almanacs were bought by
the thousands. To show what sorry
quacks Virgins and Vennor are, not.
withstanding the lapse of two centu.
ries, during which the art of humbug
ging has been developed immensely,
they have not improved in the least
on Partridge system. He just as they,
foretold storms in March and Decem.
Der, showers in April, hot weather in
August. and frosts in November, and
made as loud boasts as if hit was
made.
Swift became disguised at Partrid-
ee's pretensions, and determined TO
put him down. Walking around
London one day, he noticed over q
smiths shop the sign: Isaac Bicker
staff. 1t struck bis fancy, and he
stored it in bis memory for future use.
In January, 1908, Partridge came
ont with his almanac as usual. A few
weeks afterward London was aston
ished by the publication Of a small
sheet which purported to contain
the predictions of Isaac Bickerstaf,
astrologer. Ii made a profound sen.
sation, and the sale was great. Instead
Of the vague and indefinite hints at
fpturity which Psrtridge's almanacs
contained, it foretold foreign and do
nestle events with the greatest partic
ularity, giving even hour Of the day
when deaths of famous men, great
victories aud defeats should occur
But one statement created the most
talk; for at ii O'Clock on the 10Th Of
March it was predicted that Partridge
the almanac maker, would die. Part
ridge himself stsatly denied its truth
but it was Of no use. On the Both Of
March another pamphlet came oul
giving a circumstantial account Of hi.
death. after sincere repentance Of biz
sins and confession Of the worthless
ness of his almanac. Everybody be-
lieyed he was dead, and Partridge wa.
never able to convince the public thai
he was still alive. 1t broke up hi
business, and 10 a few years be really
did die. II is a pity that the deaf
isn't still on earth, to deal with Ven
nor and Virgins A good dose o
ridicule is probably the most eifectua
weapon which can be usen aeains
Them, and the dean was a master O
the art.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
A Memphis school,

EDITOR LEDGER knowing the
interest you feel in all that concerns
the city. aud especially its educational
affairs, | hope you will allow space
for an allusion to one of its private
schools. 1t is conducted by Professor
w. s. Jones, who has been with us
about two years.
was requested to examine his ad-
vanced Algebra class, and not to spare
the boys. A few days since | enjoyed
the pleasure Of meeting them.
| tried to make the test fair and
rigid, and was much pleased with the
result. The class was we'll trained
and gave reasons for their work, taking
nothing for granted. Certainly thu
alone is the proper education, the
drawing out which will serve them il
after years
They we're accurate, hut not hasty,
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
Winchester Cemetery.

This ancient feature of Memphis,
so long neglected and unsightly, has
been improved so much Of late under
the direction of the Old Folks at
Home Society that it begins to be a
place Of beauty and attractiveness.
A wonderful transformation has been
made. Sergeant Rodgers has been at
work at it for many moRths, and the
results are at once a pleasure to the
eye aud the mind. The old graves
have been restored, flower bushes and
vines planted the trees trimmed up and
the entire place enclosed with wire
fence that will keep out goats and
mackerels. An Office building is
beng erected for the preservation of
the records obtained from the Regis
ter's Office going as far back as 1926.
The Taxing District will build good
road TO the cemetery, and the street
cars will be running to the place by
the time Of the next annual meeting of
the Old Folks in May. A new inter,
est has been awakened in, this long
neglected spot where lies the dust of
many who were the leading people Of
Memphis years and years ago. Their
lives made up and entered largely into
the early history of the city, and the
descendants of or kindred o! many OF
them live here yet. There is much Of
local and personal historic interest
that clusters around this old and long
forgotten burial place. 1t contains no
new graves or monuments, and visit
to its precincts awakens no fresh
grief in the bosom of any one. But it
calls up memories and speculations as
to the past; it suggests that Memphis,
on the Mississippi, has history as
we'll nigh forgotten by nine-tenths Of
the present generation as that Of an
cient Memphis buried on the Nile.
To restore and preserve this is one
of the laudable purposes of the Old
Folks at Home. Their efforts have
been productive of visible and graft
tying changes, creditable to the society
aud to the civilization which we all
desire to promote.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20

because thoy reckon Mr.. Haskell's
income from his newspaper at ten or
twenty times the CongressmAns But
it is not tho income Of tho man to
whom this frequent remark is address
ed which constitutes its offensiyeness,
but the prevalent assumption that the
main errand in life Of the journalist
Is 10 pick up few items" Picking
up items is an honorable branch Of
the profession, aud one which public
men are often very grateful to have
we'll done, but it does not define the
scope of a journalists work much
more accurately than "hoss case" do
the professional labors Of an average
lawyer, This conception Of the jour
alist's work Is about on par with that
OF another class OF persons, old wo-
men of both sexes, who think the
great anxiety Of an editors life is to
get something to gil up"his columns.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
Decreasing Immigration.
3peolaI 10 the COmmersial Gazette.

DpeVlai W tue SOmmcrelal Uazebte.
WASHINGTON, March l5-The vols
ume Of immigration continues steadily
to fall of, and at present is at lower
ebb than at any time since the mem
orable year of 1879; when the total
arrivals were but l77,2S6. During
February 1905 immigrants landed,
compared with 1921 year ago. The
decrease is general, except from Ire
land, but is most marked in German
and Canadian arrivals. For the eight
months ending February %, the i'm
migration amounted to 300, 484, a dc.
crease Of 74,6O9 from last year. At
the present rate the whole number for
the present fiscal year will amount to
45O,726. The past two years it has
averaged y29,2l2.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20

1t is claimed that the steamship
Meteor, which is to DO built by a
Boston company, will be able to cross
the Atlantic in five days, and will
make twenty-four round trips annu-
ally. She will carry six hundred
6rst class passengers and two thou-
sand in the Storage, and will have
room for FIVE hundred tons of mail
and express matter. She will need no
sailors and the cost of running her, it
is estimated, will be but one halt that
of vessels of her class now 10 use. Tho
Meteor will cost $4,000. There are
fifteen patents on her style OF con-
Struction, which her designer has
secured both 10 America and England
The principle upon which the boat is
constructed is that of curves. her
builders maintaining that if every
outside line is curve toward a point
at each end theae will be much less
resistance TO overcome, both from
wind and water. If the Meteor full
fills expectations a number of othor
such boats will be built. and a rapid
transit line established as soon as they
are completed.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
@Key Corner"

EDITOR LEDGER-Within the past
few weeks | have observed a number
of paragraphs in the newspapers in
regard to the origin OF the key
Corner" in Dyer county, this State,
meme of which are correct, and as
that Corner" has local interest and
also a history, | beg space in your
columns to give the facts.
Soon after the close of the Revolu>
tionary war, perhaps about 1891, Henry
Rutherford, the brother of my pa,
ternal grandmother, undertook the
location and survey OF military lands
granted to himself and others for SER
vices rendered during that war in
what was then known as Cumberland a.,
beginning his loo atoms in what is now
Middle Tennessee, and closing them
in what is now West Tennessee.
Family tradition says that
much Of this work was done
at night, by moonlight, in order to
avoid the Indians, who were then the
sole inhabitants of the country, and
were bitterly hostile to the location.
For nearly two years, with no COM
panions save his two chain carriers,
was he engaged in this perilous enter
prise in this then vast unbroken will.
derness.
Completing his work he returned to
Virginia, and in 1898 removed with a
little colony and settled in Sumner
county. Tenn.
In 1916 he, in company with my
grandfather and others interested, went
on packhorses across the wilderness to
the ObiOu country TO examine and
take possession of their land, which
be had located and surveyed nearly 30
years before, and which he had not
since seen. In the meantime, the
earthquake of 1911 had occurred, and
SO changed the face of tho country
that the old pioneer found himself
utterly unable to recognize any feature
oft or TO find single line OF starting
point from which to locate a tract OF
his land. One survey had bodily dis
appeared 10 what is now Reelfoot lake
Deep assures in the earth, often nearly
q mile in length, that were still i'm.
passable, rendered travelling across the
country difficult, tedious and danger
sand it was not until after weeks OF
patient search that he found this
corner" on the bank of the south
fork Of Forked Deer river, few miles
below where the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad now crosses that stream, and
that corner" furnished the key" by
which he found and located every
other tract of his lost survey
in West Tennessee. Hence The
name, given to that old sycamore BY
himself and for that reason. The tree
was not planted" by him, as 1 see
stated in a speech made by a member
of the present, Legislature upon the
presentation to the Speaker of tn,
House of a gavel made of a bloch
from this historic tree, but was al
original corner tree" marked b,
Henry Rutherford in his FIRST survey
made nearly a hundred years ago
which subsequent events caused Il
figure eonspicuously in the local his
tory of land throughout all tina
country.
These are the facts as have otter
had them from my father, now eighty
two years old, whose recollection
aud "reminiscences OF our old uncle
aud the pioneer settlers Of West Ten
nessee, are exceedingly vivid and in
teEesting.
THOMAS 7. CHAMBERS.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
CONGRESSMAN FINNERTY.
He Declines TO Participate In
the NJ. Patrick banquet at
Chicago.

CHICAGO, March l7.-Congressmau
Finnerty refused to attend St. Pat
rick'S banquet, at the Palmer House,
owing to the fact that City Collector
Onahan, one Of its prominent guests,
in newspaper interview, denounced
the London explosion as an idea that
Irish liberty could be secured through
dynamite. Finnerty says such ideas
are cowardly and disgraceful.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20

rejecting great credit upon their
teacher.
l was also pleased with the orderly
conduct Of the school, as | saw it.
Each boy seemed to realize that he
was expected to be a gentleman.
Professor Jones is an acquisition to
the city, and is we'll sustained. May
be long remain with US and establish
such school for boys as has long
been needed.
LAURENCE LANGToN.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
I've Nuns in Dxersburg.
Dyersburg Gazette, II.

0sNAe9hAb hoAINhot IL
The unusual appearance of two nuns
upon our streets last week excited
considerable attention and curiosity.
They came from the city Of Memphis
and were engaged in raising funds for
the noble work of founding home for
fallen women, who wished to reform.
We are glad to know that after can
wasting our town they secured between
thirty and forty dollars. They were
bright, pleasant women with fine con-
versational powers. Ifany one has an
idea thai nuns are entirely sanctimo-
NOUS with no merriment about them.
they just ought to have seen Sister
Agnes and Sister Raphael chattering
in our editorial room. If all were
true that ignorant people have charged
against the Catholic church, that one
noble institution of Sisters Of Chair
ty" would wipe out all the sins and
surround it with halo of glory.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
Red.Ridden and Cnred.

E. W. E. Huestis, of Emporia. Kansas,
says that his wife had been sick near
ly seven years, and for the last four
months bed-ridden. She has been
treated by a number of physicians
and only grew worse. Her attention
was called to DR.. Pieyce's Golden
Medical Discovery" and "Favorite
Prescription" which she commenced
using. In one week she could sit up,
and in three weeks could walk about.
By druggists.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
In Items.
snflnrlIeld Repnbllnnn.

"Ah." said one Of the country law.
yers who got into Congress, upon be.
ing introduced to Mr.. Haskell, Of the
Boston Herald, at Washington. glad
TO see you, Mr. Haskell. You're down
here, | suppose, picking 40 Gw
ittms for your paper Tho Washing.
I u journalists were amused AZ this
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20

Nashville American, Do.

'"'11IV thIHVIINHUT 10
Charles H. Eastman, County Court
Clerk, has fled with the Secretary of
State the reports Of births, deaths and
marriages 10 Davidson county for 1889
The marriages I'll three big volumes
If every county sends them in for a
few years, a library will have to be
erected for statistical literature of this
sort.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
Only $50 TO San Francisco and
Return.

Mr.. Frances Chandler, general
passenger agent Of the Missouri Paci>
fc. and chairman Of the committee on
rates to the Triennial conclsve next
August, has issued a circular to gems
eral passenger and ticket agents in>
forming them that, in his report Of
Feb. ] giving rates 10 the Triennial
oonolave at San Francisco, be stated
that For the members OF the Grand
Commandery only, the rate going and
returning by the same route will be
$50" This is incorrect, having made
the error OF suppOsing that the grand
body Of the Order Of the United
States was called the Grand Com>
mandery. II is known as the Grand
Enoampment, and the clause should
read For the members of the Grand
Enoampment only, the rate going and
returning by the same route will be
$50"
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
A Fine Hair Dressing.

CocOaine dresses the hair perfectly,
and is also a preparation unequsled
for the eradication of dandrufF.
The superiority Of Burnett's Fla
voring Extracts consists in their pu.
rity and great strength.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
Prof James A. NeweII, AM, M

H., Of Medical Faculty, Laval Univcr-
sity. Quebec, states. II have found col
den's Liquid Boei Tonic partieu-
larly useful in advanced stages Of con-
sumption, weakness, dyspepsia and all
nervous affections. In pregnant women
1t hns been retained when every other
article Of feod WIS rejected Palatable
nrd casy ol digestion Take no StherIl
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
SEALED PROPOSALS.

BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS. \
TAXING DISTRICT SHELBY Co.. TENN.
MEMPHIS, March Is. 1888.
GEALED proposals will be received BY us
- until Friday. March q. 1883, at 10 O'clock
noon, for the following work to be done, SER
zoe TO BE- rendered and material to be fur
nished to the Taxing District Of Sheibv
county; For the grading and paving Of
second street from Poplar to Baal streets
40xS7O0 feet mo or less, in all about l6, SOD
square yards more or less, as follows: =
i. me width Of the street. and street cross
ings TO be paved to be bought to a true and
exact grade as per grade stakes and direc-
tions eiysn by the Engineer before placing
any sand and gravel upon the same.
2. Thecurbing to be moved in and reset 10
true 81 lde aad line as per curb stakes set By
3. Upon the graded roadbed is to be placed
not less than inches Of coarse bar sand and
gravel, whieh is to be brought TO exact grade
BY. means Of . drag plank.
=; Upon tAis bed Of sand and grayel, is q
20 placed lank flooring one inch thick laid
lonRitudinally, the ends ofthe planks to Be
sawed OIL square and to be supported on 3
Gross plank and to which they are to DO
5 Upon this, plank flooring Is to be put
compressed with paving.
q; mo p,ung 70 be of good block stoAs,
well shaped and laid in close ranRs oOur Aes-
the stone 20 De D TO inches deep, TO IL
inches long and ranging from TO inches
courses, joints and all crevcps IN be well
tllled with coarse gravel and sand; tie eutire
paving to Do rammed over three ~ timea.
each tine filing In with gravel and sand.
the pavement being finally completed Nv
rolling and washing In OF sapd and 'leavinFe
tep dressing Of sand.
z. All bidders Ase required to bid BY the
square yard for the entire work complete.
READY Tor use ana as per Specifications and
explanations given by the Engineer. One-
half the stone to be delivered ON or besora
May 18th, and the entire work completed ~
or before July J, 1883.
In the above work the Board resers the
right 10 change the manner of laoinT tho
pavement, either TO lay with orJSi hout' a
base of plank. or to furnish a mart or fha
whole OF the plank foundations TO have aid
one or more, squares or the Ontire work with
plank foundation, or to dispense with X Alto.
gether, as may hereafter be determined: AID
bidders are required 10 bid with and without
foundation Of plsAk at - cent, per snuare
yard for each plan for the entire work eoun-
plete. Ths Board alsO reserves the further
tlght 70 reject any and all bids. All bids
nUst be labeled "Pecond Street Pavement "
anu under resolution Of the Legislative
OSuncu must be accompanied with the names
VI We fesp9nsihle bondsmen, prepared to
execute bona for 5000 each, and each and
every hld mu also be accompanied with a
9sIlll2sssd1o check for two hundred and fifty 4
BY rderIof the Board.
- ~ nANlD u HADDEN, President.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
CHANCERY SALE
REAL ESTATE,


REAL ESTATE.
No. 4762, R-Chaneery Court Of Shelby counts
Patrick kallaher VS.. Robert kinRWElf
and Julia Ringwald.
Rf virtue Of an lnterlooutory decres for
~ sale, entered in the above cause on he
18th day Of February, 1888, M B 81, GA, i
wiu sell, at public auction, TO the highest bid
der, ~ mont Of the Clerk and Masters ofice.
courthouse OF Shelby county. Memphis, Ten
nessee, on
Saturday, March 81, 1883,
within legal hours, as to the following de.
scribed property, situated In Shelby county.
d TEMP. and in the Taxing District late city
beginning one hundred and ten feet east
OF Shelby street at the intersection of a Ear,
foot alley with Mccall street, thence east
wardly with the south line of Mccall street
twenty. five feet six inches. thence south
wardly parallel with Main street ninety feet
SIX inches 10 an alley, thence northwardly
with said alley twenty-fv feet six inches To
the ten foot alley first mentioned, thence
northwardly with said ten foot alley ninety
Ieet slx inches to the beginning, being lot No.
seven, In block No twenty-four.
Terms Of Sale One third % cash, balance
IN SIX az d twelve months, notes bearing in
terest, with gotd. personal security for de-
IIerred, payments, lien retained, redemption
barred.
This March l., 1888.
BLACK, Clerk and Master.
BY Geo. Mallory, d, Q ~ M
Taylor a Carroll and d. A. Frayser. rolls.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20

Expressions of gratitude on the part
of the public are always impressive
and solemn. 1t is pleasant to know
that the people are justly praising the
merits of DR.. Bulls CoGgh Syrup, a
safe remedy for coughs, colds, bron-
ehitis, Group and sore throat.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
"A OAH~

70 all who are suffering from the errors and
aiscTetionl Of youth, nervous weakness,
Tly .; decay. loss 81 manhood, etc. / will ssng
VA SsqplEEHE thM VIII cure you, FREE OF
missionary In South America. Send a
'eli-addreseed envelope 70 the Rev. tOsTPH 4
80 An station D. New York City.
b2xxxiVb2d
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-20
ChanCery Sale of
Real Estate.

Nos. 607 and S:94- -Chancery Court of sbslbv
county-w X Moore VS. B A Shopht I'd et II
and .vs A Shepherd VS. A Shepherd OF al ].
RY virtue of an interlocutoly decree for sale.
~ entered in the above cause on the Sd dav
Of July 1882, NJ B IS, p $3.50. 1 " i'll sell at pub.
lie auction. to the highest bidder, in front of
the Clerk and Masters Office, courthouse of
Shelby county, Memphis, Tennessee, on
Saturday, April 2, 1883,
within legal hours, the following described
property, situated in Shelby county, Tenn.
tO-wit:
A certain lot lying on the west side of Sec
ond street, Memphis, Tenn, between Gayoso
and Beal streets, fronting the west side Of
Second street % feet ard running back be-
tween parallel lines $50 feet 10 an alley, be-
ing lot Of the subdivision Of lot 1855 on the
plan Of South Memphis, and same set apart
by comm issioners herein to Ben A Shepherd.
Terms of sale- On credit Of six months,
note bearing interest with goo d security; lien
retained; redemption barred.
This March IL. 1888
X ] BLACK, G and NJ,
BY George Mallory. D G and M.
Estes Elicit, Humes 4 Poston, sol'rs,
is 202632