davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Destructive Forest Fires

CUMBERLAND, Wis, Sept. lS.-Forest
fires are raging in the country immedi
ately south and in plain sight Of the
city, and Il strong south wind prevails.
Several farm houses and barns, two
wood yards ami Il large amount OF other
property has been burned. Men are
now fighting the flames, and there is
much apprehension in this city.
The village of Ptrley was almost
wiped out OF existence by fire yesterday.
At ToInaha d most disastrous fire is
raging in the cranberry marshes be-
tween Valley Junction and Norway.
Between twenty-five and thirty square
miles Of marsh have been consumed,
and the fire shows no signs CT abate-
ment. Thousands OF dollars worth CT
property have already been sacrificed.
PRAIRIE FIRES IN NORTH DAKOTA.
BIsNACK, \. D.. Sept. 1S.-A disas-
trous prairie lire has burned over a large
portion Of Emmons County, sixty miles
South of here. Driven by a strong west
wind. Il sheet of flame as high as the
house.topS swept over the country from
the Missouri River past Williansport,
which place narrowly escaped. and into
the southeastern PARTON OF the county.
Details are meagIe No mail was re-
celved from Wiliiamsport last evening.
The loss will be heavy, as large area
of range lands was burned over. Many
farmers lost their entire crops and
buildings. 1t is reported that one man
was fatally burned.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
CHAPTER III.
TYING THE MORTGAGE.

AS has been stated, neither John nor
Mary slept much that night after they
had concluded to mortgage the farm,
and so, worn out with I restless night,
John was astir in the morning 1T an
unconmonly early hour. Upon dress
ing and going out the first object that
met his eyes when he opened the door
was small bag of corn meal sitting
on the door step.
He and Mary wondered a great deal
at this, and many suggestions as to how
it came there were offered by one and
the other, but after due consideration
they were all dismissed as untcnable,
and eventually they decided that old
Markham had become convinced OF
having acted wrongfully and had in the
night stolen over with the meal, being
ashamed to let his presence be known.
Louise had another and more correct
opinion regarding the matter, but as in
all other cases where Paul was con-
ccrned she resolved to keep quiet.
However the meal came there, 1t
proved Z very acceptable gift, in fact q
perfect Godscnd to the Greens, for
otherwise their breakfast would have
been very meager affair. AS it was,
they had some corn cakes and some
parched meal coffee, and these were
rare delicacies in those days and had
= salutary effect on John, since with a
full stomach some of his old-time pride,
independence and courage returned,
and after partaking Of that breakfast
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Our Depleted Cotton Crop.

Following is the report of the wealth
er bureau for the week ending Satur
day:
"The rainfall has been below the nor
NAL: temperature abou, the average
amount: sunshine has been above the
average. The heavy rains winch coni-
pletely saturated the soil, and in many
places ponded, and together with the
hot sunshine for the past week Scalded
and rusted most Of the cotton crop, and
caused many of the immature Lolls to
open, and has thereby greatly decreased
the yield. From reports received from
correspondents, and from other reliable
information, my last report OF % per
cent. decrease is fully sustained, and at
several places the decrease IN produc-
ton is placed at much higher estl-
mate.
Il give 4 few of the several state
meuts OF reliable and Intelligent far
mers, giving the condition OF the cot
ton crop: "'In Richland, Sumter, Dar-
lington. Florence and Chesterfield
Counties, fully 25 per cent. below the
average. Some places one-half picked
out. l have travelled over nearly the
entire state within the last two weeks
and | am satisfied that the cotton crop
is injured mvre than % per cent. l
have been planting for eighteen years
and have never failed in that time to
average one bale of cotton to the acre.
Ill get half bale to the acre this year
! shall do we'll"
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30

and :rY powerful haci tc scare people
away from iere, bur 1t won't work.
We've got the soil, and we've got the
seasons, and so long as we can produce
such stuff as you see there, We're all
right. I tell you, sir, there amt more
productive spot nowhere On earth than
you find right here in this county. And
vet lands cheap here. Away down
cheap. I can sell You rs good land as
ever lay out door for fifteen dollars IN
acre. It's the farm, too, that that corn
grew on"
John listened to this speech in won
der. Was it possible. ne thought. that
the country could be such as icrag%s
said, and yet he not know it? Scraggs
was a very honest, ca:ncst-looliing man,
and he spoke in such {. free, matter-of-
fact way that it seemed impossible that
he was not speaking the truth. After a
short silence John said:
"Do you say that those samples Of
grain grew in this country, Mr..
Scraggs?"
81 do, certainly, and there is nothing
remarkable in it to us who know the
country and know what the land is. I
daresay you have heard wild stories
about this section and are i'll prepared
to believe what l tell you. However,
ask our farmers and they will tell you
the same story. AS l said, l can sell
you the best farm in the county for
fifteen dollars per acre, and it's worth
more than that to-day, and in a year
from now it will be worth twenty if
not twenty-five. Twill drive you out to
look at it if you think It would suit you.
What you say?'
why, I don't want to buy land, but
just came in to see about getting loan
on q claim have out east"
ITO be continued.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Murder and Suicide.

WOODLAND, Cal, Sept. 1.-THE life
less bodies OF Miss May Adams and J.
w. Montgomery were discovered this
morning lying in the rear yard OF a
small unoccupird residence. a vial
labelt d poison" and a Smith & MeSson
revolver We're fouhd beside tilrm. In
vesSigation showed hat Montgomery
first shot Miss Adams in the LETT temple
and then turned and fired u shot
through his own brain. Miss Adams
was the daughter OF L. 3. Adams, who
represented this County two terms III
the Legislature. Montgomery was a
son OF Judge Montgomery OF Stockton.
The supposltlon IS that the murder and
suicide were the result OF d refusal on
the part Of the lady's parents to permit
their marriage
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30

Tic field became sea of waving green,
Johns courage returned and hope rode
high in his breast.
"Wc shall come out all right yet,
Mary he remarked one evening as
they walked out to look at the crops.
1--WE shall come out all right, and soon
have (; nice home; and it will all be
ours. 1t will only take q little time and
little patience"
"Who cares for the time, John?"
Mary replied. I'm sure that I don't
mind the waiting and the work, only so
we get home at last"
And thus contented to work and wait,
these brave pioneers, like thousands of
others, submitted chcerfully to every
hardship and inconvenience, and bore
uncomplainingly on against adversely
and misfortune.
For three years they kept steadily to
their purpose, contcnding against
drought and hot winds, which every
year destroyed their growing crops and
left their fields parched and brown.
Then John took down with malaria,
and all the spring and all the summer
was unable to work, and want pressed
upon them, and the wolf of hunger
drew near the door of the sod house,
placing them in the condition where
the opening of this story found them,
driven to the necessity of'mortgaging
the claim for food.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Sout,, Carolina Postal Service.

a convention Of the postnasters OF
this State was held in Columbia on
Tuesday last. the object being to discuss
the condition OF the service, and Sug-
gest plans for it's improvement. Among
other things the following suggestions
were made. addressed to the Postmaster
General.
l. Make a condition precedent to
mailing. that every piece OF mailing
meter shall bear the return card ad'
dresses.
,. Let the regulations be SO changed
that the unpaid matter can be forward
ed to points OF destination and double
rate be collected for it upon delivery.
3. Have postal rates and classification
printed on the flap OF all envelopes by
The vernment, unless otherwise Or
dered by the purchaser.
1. That an elastic band bearing name
of mailing office be placed on all fourth
class parcels.
5. That the postal note be abolished
and a three cert fee be charged tor
money orders for less than five dollars.
6. That postmasters he allowed to
open, N the presence OF witnesses, all
letters dropped into the office without
direction, in order that the name OF the
writer may be ascertaIAed and the let
ter returned for address, SO that the Ia
Dor and delay OF sending the same to
the dead letter Office may be aVolCed.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
"WNAr FOOLS THESE moeYALs BEL
Ao Astounding SwiEdie Finds 3IanT
DUDes in Sirs.iHiA.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Sept. 2O.-One
Of the mcst astounding sWindles in the
history of the country has just been
brought to light here uy federal detect
ives, who have ar. T.sted Henry Ash and
George ". Rose. Two Of three ringiead-
ers Robert T. Lively, the man who
erlsinaled tir; scheme, ESCAPED t. TIE
mountains, bal !. posse is after tlm.
Some weeks ago these three nien II.
gained s.t - Albans. this county a
hrapcn of wha. was alleged to be the
National Ass, mh.y,' sad 10y the con-
spiratorS to be patriotic orGer, having
for its object the relief of the national
government. 1t was proposed 70 put
into the possession of the government
the gold coin boarded up by the people, to
the end that the government might De
enabled to meet it's obligations aud be
saved from national reputation. The
Treasuary Department. it was explain
ed, had plenty Of paper money anu had
agreed that tor al the gold coins paid
into the assembly" and certified 10y the
O1liCeTS, lnGTt NOulu UC ptlt I'C tiuloo
the sum in paper currency. Nothing
less than $500 would be accepted from
any one.
The thing took in a surprising way.
The country was secured for gold. Oae
man paid $1,000, another $500, and
scores gave 5000 to $500 for the worth
less certificates Of the swlndlers. The
Chesapeak and Ohio Railroad Company
paid it's employees in gold, anda large
sum OF this money went into the cof-
fers of Lively and his pals. Pooc men
borrowed, begged and mortgaged, that
they might raise gold, and many dol
lar OF hard-earned savings went into
the assembly for the relief OF the gov
eminent"
The postoflice authorities got wind OF
the tting about Il week ago, aad today
the arrest were maze The excitement
over the swiudle is great. 1t is estlmat-
ed that the swindlers obtained ever $780,
600 from their dupes, many OF whom
are left penniless.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
A MANS HEROINE.

Some girls are extol!e6 for their beauty
And some for their knowledge and wit,
And others for doing q duty,
Of hardship and courage and grit,
And some for composing sonnet
Or acting and filing hall,
But the girl who can trim her own bonnet
And makes her own dress beats all.
Miss Patti more music may warbie,
Rose Bcnheur excel her with paint,
Miss HoSmer carve better on marble,
She may not be half Of a saint
But if she can make her own dresses
And trim her own bonnet we hold
She iS-for the husband she bleSseS-
Worth more than the others, all told.
A Girl who can make her head pretty
And, also. her figure look sweet,
Is, either in country or city,
a prize which no genius can beat;
And when in addition she's able
To care for the babies and cook
We set her right up on the table
And call on creation to look.
Hurrah for this girl and no other
We shout her unlimited praise,
TO win her away from her mother
And wed her we're trying always;
She makes man happy forever
BY helping-aS Nature ordalnS-
While those who, alas, are too clever,
But add to his troubles and pains.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30

he felt that he could face 4 great deal
more trouble than he then had, and
come off victorious.
Breakfast over, John harnessed up
the two horses to the old wagon. and he
and Mary drove off to the little town
where Scraggs kept his office. The
day was warm and clear and the roads
dry, and the trip, though embracing
ten miles each way, was not a disagree
able one. The two talked great deal
as they went down, about one thing and
another. but neither Of them limited at
the matter about which they were
making the trip. They grew quite
cheerful after they had been out
awhile, owing, no doubt, to the fresh
air and change OF scenery.
Arriving at the town. which, by the
way, was called Paradise Park, though
there was nothing resembling a park
within a hundred miles OF it. and 1t Is
safe to presume that it bore little enough
resemblance to paradise, with it's one
street and four or five shackling old
board buildings half buried in the sand
and all<ali drifts-arriving at this young
METROPOLIS of the west. John Green and
his wife had little difficulty in finding
Solomon Scraggs' office, for it was the
most prominent building in the place,
being post Office, printing office and
real estate and loan Office al in one and
all under the control and guidance Of
Scraggs.
Mr.. Scra@gs was in his Office when
the Greens entered, but being deeply
engaged ut the time in writing IN edl-
torial for his paper, the Western
Breeze, on the mu;tlfarious advantages
in coming to western Kansas to live
and invest capital, John had to wait
| some time before he had an opportunl-
| tv of stating hi, business. In the mean
| time he had L chance to take survey
of the office and to observe the wonder
| fnl ears OF corn and stalks OF Iuillct and
wheat and oats that hung against the
walls rs samples OF the products OF the
surrounding country. lie was stlll
gazing upon these magnificent spcci-
mems when Mr.. Scraggs brought his
| able editorial to finish and whirl-
! inr about in his chair caught John in
| the act. Instantly l. smile lighted up
the agents face, and rubbing his hands
torether, he said: Those are not SO
bad, arc they?
| John recalled his gaze from the sam
pies and, fixing it upon Mr.. Scraggs, re-
piled:
"No, they are not bad"
81 should say not" ScragGs went on
mot bad for :; new country cursed Will
drought, hot winds, grasshoppecs aho
all that sort of thing. Ha! la! They
tell terrible st"~"e ?hont this country
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Terrihie Entp.

CLEVELAND, o., Sept. J6.-John Nc
Cafferty, :, lineman for the Western
Union Telegraph company, met with a
terrible death in front OF the court
house in the presence of one hundred
spectators yesterday. McCaiferty was
talking to some friends, and then began
to climb g telegraph pole to adjust a
wire. He had reached a point be! ond
the first crosS-arln, when, with shrek,
he fell backward. His spurs caught IN
the iron steps of the pole. and his head
hung downward. Y telephone wire
had fallen across an electric light wire
and McCatferty had received terrible
voltage in his body. His face and arms
turned black, and he hung fully three
minutes before ladder could be secured
and the unfortunate man brought to the
ground. He died on the Way to the hos
Dital.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30

ern Kansas. 1t was short, plain and
pointed, and evidently anyone ought to
have understood it at 4 glance. Yet
John Green read it and studied it as
though it was some deep problem with
mysterious meaning. At last he put
down the local paper in which the ad-
vertisement appeared and arising paced
to and fro across the yard with his head
bowed and look of deep trouble on his
face.
81 don't know" he mused, as he came
back and resumed his seat near the
cabin door. Something must be done,
and done at once; for, as smatters stand,
starvation stares US in the face. We
must have food, and we must have
money in order 20 get it; and there is
but one way, SO far as can see, to get
morey-but one way. And yet I dis
like to think Of mortgaging the farm.
have had experiences with mortgages,
and I dread them. They are the bane
of poor mans life. the cancer that
eats in deeper and deeper until he is
left destitute and homeless"
John Green shuddered as he drew
this picture, for it brought back to him
in all its ghastly vividness that time,
but q few years before. when that vam-
pire, the mortgage, had eaten up his
last dollar and turned himself and fam
ily from their loved little home in the
east.
For long time he sat in moody
silence, now with his face buried in his
hands, and now.looking with a sad, far
away gaze out across the endless
stretch of bare, brown prairie to where
the sun, like great round ball OF fire,
was slowly sinking behind the edge Of
the earth. For an hour almost he re-
NAMED thus, the shadow on his face
deepening with those of evening, his
eyes dimming, while ever and anon q
tear stole down his rough, weather
stained cheek.
ssYes, we must have food" he re-
sumed at last, ''and we must have mon
ey, and we must mortgage the claim
to get it. 1t is hard thing to do, but
to suffer from hunger is worse. We
cannot starve, that's certain"
Just then woman appeared in the
doorway. She was wan, sad-faced
creature, plainly q victim to overwork
End worry. Her once beautiful face
was furrowed with deep lines OF care,
and her waving brown locks were pre-
maturely streaked with gray. The IRE
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
TIE 4 alliance farmers OF Kansas have

TIE Alliance farmers OF Kansas have
not taken the advice that was given
them to repudia;e their mortgage ID
debtedneSs, but are paying it mp as last
AS they gel the money for their crops.
The statistics recently collected on the
subject are encouraging to all holders
of farm mortgages, and pleasing to
everybody who believes in The honesty
and honor of the fariuers OF the coun-
try. 1t is sound policy that the Kali
sas farmers are pursuing in this res
meet. and il will rebound to their adj
Aontape at once and hereafter.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30

of life was gone from her eyes, leaving
pair of listless crbs that told all too
plainly their story Of misery and suffer
ing. There was no trace Of smile
lurking about the thin, compressed lips
that had once been rosy with health and
happiness. She was {. perfect example
of mental and physical debility liv-
ing result of hard times and mans in
humanity to man" She was dying,
inch by inch. OF worry, want and work.
John Green glanced up when his wife
appeared in the doorway, and motion
ing her to d seat beside him attempted
to assume less melancholy air as he
said:
Mary, you areworrying yourself sick
again, and you ought not do it. You
must look on the brighter side Of things,
wife, and never lose hope"
John, it is useless for US to try to
disguise our feelings any longer Mary
replied. 1--WE know and understand
each other too well for that, and we
know that there is nothing on earth for
us to hope for. I have all along al
fected a cheerfulness did not feel, be-
cause l thought it helped to tighten
YOUR burdens little, but now we per-
fectly understand each other, and to
dissemble longer is folly. I know what
YOU suffer, John, for l have seen It
from the first, and know that there Is
no hope in your heart.
Mary, don't talk So" John plea1ed'
''The future does look dark and blank
but it may not be SO bad as it seems
We must keep up courage.
Mary Shook her head despondently'
and the tears she had with SO much CT.
fort restrained broke loose and flowed
thick and fast. John placed his arm
about her and drawing her to him Ialo
her head on his shoulder.
'sMary," he said, II know the pros
pect is discouraging, but there will be
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
An on Board Perishcd.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1.-THE mys-
terry surrounding the Schooner Pan
noilia, 80 long overdue at this port from
Marshall Islands, is at last cleared up.
The vessel sailed Tor San Francisco on
May 1, laden with general cargo, and
in addition to a crew of seven. mad on
board Capt. LovedaIes wife aAd three
children. 1t IS also stated that several
missionaries had taken passage on the
Pannonia to come to this city. The
schooner was wrecked on Il reef TO the
northwest of the Hawaiian Islands, and
every soul on board was drowned.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30

= - = A<xS~N -NA AS&N
EY to loan in
large or small
amounts. Long
time and es&y
terms. Apply
to S OIL ID o n
Scraggs, ag't."
John Green
read and reread
this advertise
ment over and
over as he sat
one sum me r
evening in front
Of his little sod
cabin in west
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Closing Gr.enyille's Bars.

GREENvILLE, Sept. 1S.-Special: The
"White Mans Bar" Of which NJ. Sher.
man is the proprietor. was closed to. day
under attachment Dy TIC slerl1l lirrosS-
or OF J. B. Brown & Co, OF Baltimore
for S419; There is also a mortgage on
the saloon which was gorgeously nj.
ted-up affair, and the fixtures are salo
to have cost more than any saloon III
the State. The saloon is the third one
closed by the sheriff in a week.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
Want AN Investigation.

CHARLESTON. 5. G., Sept. Is
meeting OF the policy holders OF the
New York Life Insurance Company
was held here to-day. Several proml
nent gentlemen spoke on the subject
and resolutions were offered and ac-
cepted asking that a thorough eXamln-
alton OF the compaly's affairs be- made,
and inviting he cooperation Of policy
holders OF Olher places.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
aThs Old Reltahle."

From the Office OF the railroad COM
mission it is ascerCained that the total
income OF the South Carolina Railway
for the year ending June 30, 1891. sum
mariZed from its monthly reports. was
S1,68l, SOP. an increase over the previous
year of $26O,740. The percentage of in
crease is 1885 per cent. The following
figures show the total earnings Of this
branch for the past ten years:
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
s.,stor Hutler,s Daughter Dead.

WALuALLA, S. e., Sept. 2l.-Miss
Elise Butler, daughter OF Senator NJ
c. Butler, died at Highlands, \. T.,
this morning at 6 o'clock after ilnEer,
ing illness freln fever. Her body Will
be carried to Edgefeid tomorrow VIA
this place for interment Oh Wednesday.
She vas twenty years OLD
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
:....:,.s,.,.:::...s.

,:e.ssis cS tr;s GA:ca;:5h a. s;as {ssass,
Bus { wa2 don't. ana since 20 Eet1
was impossible, he resolved 70 go on
and make the best OF it.
SO he plowed the sod and planted the
crops, and in time the seed sprouted
and came up. Then he cultivated the
fields early and late, and as the growing
corn sprang up higher and higher and
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
unpromising.
CHAPTER II.
nNSrSiirhki-rkD.

John and Mary Green had married
against the wishes "t their parents.
Mary's father objected 70 the match De-
cause JOHN was not rs high IL the
sca.e of i,te rs he thought his daughter
nigh. aspire, for She was Z bankers
daughter and John was but conalnon
clerk. Then. to even up matters, Johns
father retaliated by declaring that no
son o. his should ever marry into q
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-30
HER FATHERS Victim.
A STORY OF
WESTERN LIFE
BY
THOMAS p. MANFO8T.
A STORY OF
CHAPTER /.
MONEY TO LOAN.

ea mASTERN MON