davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
SNAKES HER ONLY FRIENDS.
a Female Hermit Who Died Surrounded
by Reptiles.

A singular character, by name Martha
Ann Tillson, and who was known rs the
''snake woman died near here recently.
She lived in a little cabin at the foot Of
Twelve O'Clock Knob, and led "A hermit life.
having no one TO share her abode except
snakes. BY the few who were ever allowed
TO see the interior Of her cabin, II Is said to
have literally swarmed with her strange
companions, with which she ate and slept,
and which were to be seen lying in her
bosom and coiled about her neck, bodyand
limbs whenever she was ca,lgnt sight OF.
lHer extraordinary prediction for these
unpleasant creatures is supposed 10 have
arisen from morbid feeling that she was,
like them. hated Of men, for naturally de-
formed she received In addition All injnfy
to the spine while san infant, and, though
perfectly sound in mind, was Of so sensi-
tive nature as TO render her miser-
able and uneasy in the presence
of any but her parents. She was observed
TO steal away every day with a pan of milk.
and, ON being followed, was found to BE-
caressing Il dozen or SO hideous rattle
snakes, while they drank from the vessel
which she held in her lap. Horrified, her
parents tried 10 reason with her, then TO
punish, and finally to contne her, in an en-
deavor to break her of her fondness for the
reptiles, but she pined So for her pets that
they feared she would die If kept from
them.
She was little. fair woman Of about Is,
with sandy hair very abundant and long,
which she wore in a number Of tight plaits,
which, combined with her deformity and
the odd, miscellaneous style of dressing,
the result of her refusal to hold any commu-
nication with a fellow being, served to make
her most remarkable looking object. She
was looked upon as witch by the negroes
about, who declared her to he possessed Of
the evil eye. and hated and feared her ac-
cordingly, though her life was most harm
less, quiet one. She had been dead some
days when discovered, and her dead body
was literally covered by a writbiDg mass
Of snakes, which had to be killed before IL
could be removed, for the snakes turned
yiciousy on all approaching the remains.
On her heart was found c0iled IA huge rat
tlesnake dead Roanoke Times.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
NORTH CAROLINA NEWS.
HESTANDS ON THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.

Colonel n. @. Jones' Reply to y Request
to Sign an Alliance PIedge-Free Fight
I'm Greensboro's suburbs Governor
FowIe's Rest.
CHARLOTTE, n. c., June ls.-lspecial. f.
Colonel ii. &. Jones, candidate for Demo
cratic nomination for Congress in this dis
trict, was waited on by the secretary of the
Mecklenburg County Alliance to-day, who
handed the Colonel printed list Of ques-
tions to be answered and pledges to be
signed in the presence of u witness. Two
pledges required are to work for the aboli-
ton Of National banks and for establishing
subtreasuries as outlined in the famous
,,sub-Ireasury bill. Colonel Jones refused
to sign the paper at all, and In a bold letter
to the secretary. says he is candidate for
Democratic nomination, and that he pre-
poses to stand on the Democratic platform.
Colonel William johnson has sold to j
K. Gee. of Monongahela, Pa, one acre OF
ground living in the north angle OF the Al
lantic, Tennessee and Ohio and the Caro-
lima Central roads, in the northern suburbs
Of Charlotte. Within month or two this
acre of ground will be covered by the
buildings Of an extensive granite works,
whose capital stock is $4,000. 1t is the en-
terprise of the Pennsylvania capitalists
which has been previously mentioned in
TIE TIMES. Mr.. Gee has two associates,
both from Monongahela, and the three
own all the $4,000 shares Of the company.
They bought an extensive quarry near
Mooresville in Ircdell county. They Will
quarry the granite there and have II shipped
to their works here, where 1t Will be cut
and dressed.
Judge Shipp. who was reported so i'll In
Yesterdays TINES, is resting easier to
night, but no material change is noticeable.
The Charlotte Electric Light Plant Is To
be increased by the addition OF new one
hundred horse power Ball engine, and an
extra dynamo.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
CITY Officers Nominated.

PETERSBURG, VA, June ls.-lspecial.
The Democratic members Of the City Coun
Gil held caucus Tonight ana hohiinaie'
the following city officers: City auditor
G.E. Mcllwaine; register Of water-works
Myer saal; city engineer, 7. Dunn; keepel
of hay scales, b. Il. Post; portwarden, W. h
Morris; gas Inspector, X. l.. Pollan; healti
officer. Dr. G. V. Robinson; chief OF police
" III. Earnes; lieutenant ofpolice,J Il. Cox
keeper of centre market, J. G.. Bristow;
keeper of old market, X. Z. kilmarten; col
lector ofdelinqueEt city taxes, Irving smith
superintendent of water-works, John l.
Cook: keeper Of Blandford cemetery
James Muirhead; keeper of city dock, j.. A
Newsom; city attorney, y. r. Lasslter
chief engineer Of fire department, Edga
Farley; keeper ::of powder magazine, Mr
William II. Mckinney. A committee o
insurance Of this city waited ON the eau
Gus, and asked that the pay OF the chief en-
gineer of the lire department be Increased
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19

Hamilton. Of this place. who also represents
Mr.. l.. w. +. Bulifant in another suit Of like
character, instituted by another Philadel
phia bank.
The closing exercises of Bishop Payne''
Divinity and Industrial School was held to
night and was largely attended.
Mcssrs. j. B. Worth A. Co. expect to com
mence the manufacture Of ice here next
week. The factory is erected on Coffee
House street.
The congregation OF the Harrison street
Baptist church, cOorcd. expect 20 hold 9
meeting shortly for the purpose Of calling q
pastor to succeed Rev. G. B. w. Gordon
The congregation are thinking of extending
call TO Rev. Mr.. Howard, Of West Point
who has received already call to a churci
in West Virginia.
Miss Lula W. BOrst has gone 10 Rich
mond on visit to relatives.
Mr.. G. X. Reese, Jr., has gone on a visit tC
friends in Amelia county.
IL is learned from gentleman who ar
Rcd here to-day. that only about half a
crop Of wheat will be made in Lunenbure
county. As far as can be learned the Oat
crop all through this section Of the State is
complete failure.
Mr.. Shepherd, wdl-known citizen oi
Sussex county, and Miss Fannie jackson, a
'hh' 'hiihS 'iu diiid'tiNt 9oui- iduN VI tHiS
city, who were TO have been married at the
First Baptist Church this afternoon, left ON
the fast mail this afternoon for North
Carolina 10 have the nuptal knot
tied. The trouble was in getting the
license Mr. shepherd supposed that as
Miss jackson lived in Petersburg, the mar.
riage license would be issued here, but Miss
jackson beng "a minor, cannot under
the law Of the State acquire resi-
dence, the home of the parent being
the home Of the minor. The parents
Of Miss Jackson being in Sussex and
they having given their consent to the mar
riage, the young couple solved their Difficult.
ties by going to North Carolina TO be made
man and wife. Quite large crowd as.
sembed at the First Baptist Church this
afternoon to witness the marriage Of Mr.
shepherd and Miss Jackson, but were dis
nnnainfa1 a
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19

The receipts of merchandise at Norfolk
in MAY, as compiled by the Chamber ol
Commerce, were as follows: Lumber, feet,
2I.OiI,32s; logs. feet, s,196,OO6: slaves, NJ,
80. shingles, NJ, j,ijl.l,5; railroad
ties NJ. i6,,.2; hay. tons, 2, i3s; corn, bush
els, ri. 7J6; oats, bushels, %,MO; meal, bush
els, n. .S3i; rice, bushels, l.4Is; bran, bush
els. 1851: peanuts, bags, =, 80; coffee, bags,
jG: sugar. barrels, 1872; moiasses, etc.,
barrels, 81; cheese, boxes, go: butter
tubs. 1878; flour, barrels, lI;iss; nour'
blgs, 162; pork, barrels, o.; beeef, bar
rels, 4: fisL, barrels, 2.iso; fish, boxes,
III; meats, bulk pounds, 10000; meat,
tierces, "a; meat, barrels, .3s; meat. boxes,
GO: lard, terces. Isl; lard, cases, 3O1; lard,
tubs, ~; oil, coal. barrels, :, lsS; oil, cotton
seed. barrels, 10; fertilizers, tons, W; hides
packages. 1.5ia; horses and mules, head, ;.
hogs and sheep, head, tI6; cattle, head, 46S
naval stores, barrels, i,,Gg; potatoes, bar
rels. 1853; truck, sbarrels, Us; truck
loxrs, l. ,9.: eggs. barrels, i5l; eggs, crates
asl: coal, Pocahontes. llir'd; pig iron,
tons, ) vSj; tobacco leaf, hoSsheads, w; 70
cacco, tierces, III; tobacco, cases. 3is; "
bacco manufactured. packages lS'S6;
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
MANCHESTER MATTERS.
What IL Going ON of Interest on the Other
Side of the Water.

Central Methodist Sunday y-school went on
their picnic to Forest Hill Park yesterday
The police Of Manchester say that here.
after no bathing will be permitted below
the cotton factories.
The Banner Club held u meeting in Lead
er Hall last night.
The Hastings Court was i'm session yes
tefiay hearing cbancery matters.
There were no eases OF Importance before
the Mayors Court yesterday.
The Manchester Association are arrang.
ing TO have grand time at their fisb-pond
in Chesterfield on the ith Of July.
The foundation has been laid for the
oouthside Land and Improvement Compa.
ny's electric plant on semmes ayenue.
T. VI. simpson, who was charged in the
Hastings Court with forgery, has been ac'
quilted.
Mrs. Bessie Woodbridge Jeter, who has
been visiting Mrs. T.. w. Weisiger, has re-
turned to her home, in Caroline county.
\ petition is being circulated, in the
Fourth Ward recommending the City Coun-
ell TO elect Mr.. John Utz to the Council
from that ward to succeed Mr.. William ii
Owens, who resigned, having accepted q
position in Birmingham, Ala, where he will
IN future reside. Mr.. Owens was elected t.
succeed Mr.. L.. W. Weisiger
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
DANVllCE.
Surveying "A New Eailroad-A Jury RepTi.
manded.

DANVILLE, Va, June IS Special.
The fact has now been established that the
corps of railroad surveyors in Patrick cOun-
~. are locating line from Stuart to some
western point. in the coal fields north Of the
Norfolk and Western. The new road is the
Virginia and Kentucky of which David i.
Pierce, of Wytheyille, Is president. II will
cross the Norfolk and Western at kent's
mill or what is known as Newberry. \
southern connection will be formed either
with the Cape Fear and ladkin Valley, the
Richmond and Danvile or the Roanoke and
Southern.
An upper Main-street residence sold to-
day at SIP per front foot. The property
belonged to John +. IiisOn, and was bought
by Oliver W. Dudley.
Judge Paul severely reprimanded jury
to-day, when they brough in verdict of not
guilty in the case of "A mOOnshner, against
whom the Judge thought the evidence plain
and convincing.
The many friends Of Professor j. 7. Ey-
erett, president of Roanoke Femal Col
legc, are delighted TO know that his c0ndi.
tion is so far improved as TO give assurance
that he will be able 20 resume his duties as
president and teacher at the opening Of the
fall term.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
Condition OF Cisopatra's Needle.

Some fear as to the possible disintegra-
ton OF CIeopatra's Needle in London having
lately been expressed, Mr.: Johh piNon,
wellknown authority on obelisks, has care
fuIIy examined the great relic, and reports
that he fails to detect upon the surface
sign Of any decay whatever. There Is no say
ing what time may do, but, on behalf OF the
for some eighteen centuries before the
Christian era, and has stood for nearly nine,
teen since, and during these three Thousand
and seven hundred years not one singlcpot
ton Of the hieroglyphics has been erased.
This is rather long time, and there - no
reason to suppose that the week sfter mex!
a change viii begin. Having been erected
by the Pharaoh Rameses II At ane s,s,.n main
M the (;reeks. and having stood there foz
eighteen centuries, II was about twenty
lhr . years h. G. removed by orler Of Geo
na,rs 10 ths palace she was erecting u A.
exandr!a.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19

The Liberians, after being forty-four years
building up their government to top notch
only recently started in the steamboat Dusl
ness. They have launched the Grand Re
public. which is quite unlike the steamer
known here by that name. II was once a
sugar mill, and the engine that ground the
sugar now moves the boat. 1t prOpels tive
wheels, each of which has four paddles
There were fireworks and Il t0rchlight pro-
ccssi0n on the occasion Of the first depar
ture Of the Grand Republic up the It. Pau
river. II goes up fifteen miles one day and
returns the next. Getting the Grand Re
public NJ to her wharf is an awful job, and
some times requires the united services OF
the colored male population of the town OF
which the boat lies.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE
Investigating the Taxation Of Different
Lines.

RALEIGH, n. c., June is.-lspecial. r.
The proposition made by the Wilmington
and Weldon Railroad to compromise the
payment Of its State taxes was to-day ac'
cepted by the railroad tax committee. The
agreement provides that the main line si,all
not be assessed at more than $1,000 per mile
and branches at more than $4,000 per mile,
and that total tax shall in no case exceed
per cent.
John NJ. Robinson, president OF the sea-
board Air Line, was examined today win
regard to the officers Of seaDoard and Roam
oke Railroad, which operates fifteen miles
of track in this State. The investigation
will probably result in compromise, by
which this road will plso pay tax.
Mr.. II. Walters, general manager OF the
Petersburg Railroad, was examined and
stated that this road has heretofore been
absolutely exempt from any taxation under
its charter, but that its charter would ex-
pire this year, and there would be no con-
test of payment of taxes atterwarj.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
BASIC CITY.
New buildings In Course of Erection
Belt Line Railway.

BASIC CITY, Va, June Is. s.-LSpecial. r.
Booker Brothers, OF Hampton, Va, well.
known brick contractors, will remove 10
Basic City this month. They will begin
with a capacity of 10000 bricks per day,
and run their steam machinery all the year
around.
About fifty new h0usee are now in course
Of erection and nearing completion. Many
others are being contracted for.
Two very fine medicinal springs in Basic
City have just been analysed by dis
tinguished chemist.
GOOch n Ryan, contractors, have begun
work on the Belt Line Railway running
around Basic City. They have u force of
forty mules and between seyenty-fiye and
one hundred hands. They have also re-
ceiyed the contract for grading all the
streets here.
About five hundred hands are at work on
the various industries: Car shops, furnace,
paper MILL hardware factory and new hotel.
Work has begun on a thrce-st0ry college,
10 open here In September.
six carrier pigeons were let loose here
yesterday for Carlisle, Pa.
Captain G.. q. G0och. Of Staunton, is ar
ranging 10 build a $4,000 business house
here at once.
The Basic City Advance will move this
week into lis own brick building.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
OCCOQUAN.
Description of "a Pretty Little Village In
Prince william.

description oi "a Irstty Iittlt village III
Prince william.
OCCoQUAN, Va, June Is Special. r.
This pretty little village is in Prince Will
liam tidewater. The river Occoquan runs
past it. and above are the falls ncred for
their beauty which, at the times of lreshet,
are majestic. lIillsides run up on either
side-cOmparatiycly they are mountains.
Their color to-day is rch aud rare the
green is interspersed with blOssomng hazel,
aud fields of rich, mellow tints Of the harvest
IA harvest whose yield in both quantity
and quality j. said TO bc better than for
many years.
The principal industry here is the getting
out of railroad ties. They are sent 10y rail
aud water 10 the larger markets. or 10 their
proper destinations direct, and This gives
employment 10 hundreds of men, the pos
SCISSORS of homes and happy households,
and whose hospitality is of the genuine
old-fashiOned Virginia sort.
The Janney mill is one of the largest in
this section. and is filed with improved
milling machinery for roller process. Con-
siderable lumber is shipped from here also
there being four steam prOpclers engaged
in this traffic alone.
Woodbridge station, on the WashinntOn
and Southern, is OccOquan's depot. 1t il
three miles distant, and though the roads
are comparatively level they are full of
holes, and walking through the groves is 10y
far the most preferable way to reach the
village.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
PETE RSBURG.

Lunenburg's Poor Wheat Crop-Love
Laughs at Law.
PETERSBURG, VA, June lS.-lspecial.l +
Amsng the cases pending in the Circuit
Court of surry county is the suit brought by
the National Bank Of Northern Liberties Of
Philadelphia, against Mr.. l.. WI Bulifant.
of that county, upon three notes aggregating
20 negotiated 10 the bank by Mr.. Isaac
Bulifant, a son Of the defendant. The case
has special interest growing out OF the
fact that the defense 10 the suit is that the
notes were forged. But it Is understood
that the ease will not be tried al the pres
ent term of the court. The counsel for the
bank are Messrs George =. Bernard and
Davis a. MclIwaine, Of this city. The de-
fendant IL represented BY Mr.. Alexander
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
Death of "A silver King.

Relatives in Boston Of Andrew Penny, the
many millionaire Silver King of Bolivia,
have received news OF his decease. Mr
Penny was born in Birse. Scotland, in lS'2,
and took to the sea for a livelihood. Aitei
yoyaging in all parts Of the world he deter.
mined to explore the hidden wealth OF the
silver mines in Bolivia. and succeeded IN
marvellous degree. His income latterly Is
said to have been 5000 week. In 1888 ht
visited his relatives in Boston, having pre-
yiously been to his old home in Scotland
where he purchased the Craig Park estate
Aberdeen, upon which in early life he had
been employed as assistant TO the gardener
Penny married a half-caste creole. lie had
no children, but adopted the son OF one ol
his mine managers.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
LYNCHBURG.
Encouraging Railroad Report. - Sixth
District Committee.

District Committee.
LYNCHBURG. Va, June 1S.-Specal.-
The stockholders of the Lynchburg and
Durham RailroadCompany held their an
nual meeting in this city last evening. The
presidents report Of the condition of the road
was very encouraging, and it was an
nOunced that i'm a few weeks the road would
be open to Durham. Preliminary arrange
mcnts were also made Ia have the road eX-
tended south to connect with other roads,
and 10 complete the connections at this
end with the road entering this city. The
old officers were reelected. with Peter j.
Otey as president; Wood BOuldn and Ju-
liam :. Carr. Yice-prcsidents; and directors
from the city of Lynchburg. Jacob ii Frank
lin, &. X. Clark, Mosby II. Payne, John Il.
Winfrce, X. l.. Miller, George NJ. Jones;
from the county Of Campbell, John lIicksOn,
Edward Irvine, Robert W. Withers; from
the county of Halifax. III. \. EdmOndsOn,
Joseph stebbins, X. w. Watkins; from Pier
son county, \. G., j. A. Long; from the
county Of Durham, n. c., Il. j. Parrish, G.
W. Watts.
The sixth district Democratic Commit
tee, Pa. kriese chairman, will meet in this
city on Wednesday Of next week TO deter
mine the time and place for holding the
convention TO nominate candidate for
Congress. from this district. Lynchburg,
Roanoke and Bedford City are mentioned
as the place, and it is thought that late
day in August will be fixed on as the time.
1t is not probable that Mr.. Edmonds will be
opposed for the nomination.
Mr.. joel W. Jennings, an old and we'll
known tobacconst Of this city, died to-day
of paralysis, aged tilty-nine years. lie was
from AppOmattoX county, and leaves large
family and extensive connections.
The hotel Hobbies were filled this morning
with representatives OF The leading bridge
building companies Of the country, called
together by the directors of the Riyermont
Company TO make tenders for building the
great bridge across Blackwater creek. The
contract was let TO the Edgemore Bridge
Company, Of Wilmington, Delaware, who
built the great Brooklyn bridge. The work
n tn hn cnmnInlnl LN AnAnmLnr 1 100
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19

DENVER, COL, June ls.-Aaron Jones
aged Cs years, pioneer, and one OF the best
known men ia this state, shot his wife
through the leftlung this morning while the
table. He threatened 10 kill his daughter
Emma, but her pleading caused him
to hesitate. Without harming her
he placed revolver 10 his breast and
,hcI himself dead. Mrs. Jones is not ex-
l.e ted 10 survive the night. II IL thought
Mr. Jones was seized with q sudden Ill VI
insanity.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
, THE DUNBAR DISASTER.
The Tbirty-Two Victims stiII EDtombed.

DUNBAR, PA, June 1s.-The thirty-two
miners are still entombed in the burning
mine. This morning II fan was put ia ope.
ration at the mouth Of Mahoning pit. AT
o'clock this morning nearly half an acre OF
the surface over the mine cayed in, stopping
the course Of the smoke, which viii now re-
main i'm the mine, and in short time
smother any living thing therein. III VIII
take several days TO reach the place where
the men are supposed TO he.
Al six o'clock this evening, when the
night crew assumed the work Of rescung the
entombed miners they started on solid coal,
and at 10 O'Clock tonight had progressed
some 40 feet. leaving but 90 feet yet TO 20
This distance they hope to reach before day
light.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
Tsacbers' AssembIy.

RALEIGH, n. c., June ls.-lspecial. The
seventh annual session Of the North Caro-
lima Teachers Assembly formally opened
to-day at Morehead City. The number oil
teachers in attendance is the largest ever
known for the first day. FIVE hundred
teachers were present. representing VIZ
ginia, North Carolina, south Caroiina,
1eorgia. Tennessee. and Kentucky. Alter
the opening exercises this morning the boat
men OF Morehead City gave grand sailing
excursion complimentary to the teachers,
in which all participates.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
EurgIar Catching by Electricity.

Electric burglar catching has received an
impetus in Paris at the hands Of an enter
prising WINE merchant in the Rue secretan,
VINO has just landed his fifth man IN the iol-
lowing way: There is no concierge for his
premises, and he has had his store connect
ed with the room occupied by his walters
by means OF an electric wire. when the
burglar enters the bell in the walters room
rings, and the intruder is quietly naDDed,
The wine merchants experiment has been
so successful that several other traders In
the vicinity have adopted his modus oper-
andi, and are now yearning for real i've
.midnight marauder" to come their way.