The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-19

c. went out 20 interview these partIr~
They now made the acquaintance Of what
was afterward known as the carpet bag
gentry.
The town OF Atlanta was then hardly
more than a sort Of camp. Inhabited by n
few Of the cid citizens, a Yankee garrison
and a lot OF what might be called miscel-
laneous adventurous
The post commRndant was an old Dutch
man of autocratic proclivities. Indeed,
had he been an eastern pasha under tha
viceroy OF Egypt he coCld not have had a
keener eve 10 exscting "backsheesh." At
this time q few enterprlsing parties had
established little shops, that went By the
name of ''sheebangs," the contents OF
which could almost be stored away in a
drunmer's trunk, so tiny were they. But
the Dutch pasha kept an eye upon them,
aud constantly levied tribute. Seeing one
in a rather fiourishins condition he de-
manded quite a sum Of 'backsheesh.s
The owner plucked up his courage and re-
fused 10 pay il.
Den" cried the Dutch pasha, Il shut
up dis sheebangr'
And it accordingly was shut.
Another source Of profit was 70 levys
tax on every carload Of refugees that
passed through the town. Ii they refused
they were detained until they paid IL.
which they finally did rather than be
turned out Of the car and left in Atlanta
minus funds and shelter.
Young C. now had the pleasure OF in
terviewing these cormorants After vainlv
refusing, remonstrating and entreating.
he, by the advice OF friendly citizens, paid
the tax. some SO, but it seemed an enor-
nous sum 70 the ruined refugees
Ia his absence one OF the robber crew
came down 10 the car 70 inspect the family
and their belongings, and then calmly de-
manded his tribute. Mr.. c. was n fiery
old man and he scornfully refused to pay
it. \ hot alteration enSued IL must be
allowed that the Yankee, tall, raw boned
man, preserved his equanimity, which only
served TO exasperate the other.
"I'll pay you nothing" cried the old
man. IL have Gen Croxtons transporta-
ton papers that take me home, and not a
cent will pay you.
Then you don't leave here" said the
other cOolly
You have no right 20 demand money
from me over your SUI eror officers orders.
just show me your authority, sirl'
1T is the rule here for ali refugees %
pay" said the man calmly, "gnd you
must
The ruiel Who gave you any right 20
make "a rules I'll bet you can't show nae
any proof of your authority for so doing"
Il don't bet said the righteous thief
with an indescribable drawl IL have con
scientious scruples about IT,"
Your cried the old man, now badgered
into fury. you have conscientious
YOUR lie dropped back IN his chair
speeches. with anger
Having thus spiked his enemy's guns.
the blackmailer after again calmly assur-
ing him that he should not leave without
pay, took himself or.
Yonug c. soon after appeared and
stated that he had paid the tax. as tlcy
could not stay over ian Atlanta and camp
by railroad trace, and IL was not worth
while resisting When resistance was use
less.
They soon after started on their journey
over the toughest road on earth, Tor % hal
been torn up many times by the couteuJ-
ing armies, and u legend was IN crcula-
ton that when the iron rails had been SO
twisted a. to be unfit for use saplinss had
been improvised into rails aud nailed TO
the crossties 80 a. to take train over the
gaps. The road was 80 rough that the
story did not seem incredible
Marietta, their next stopping place.
seemed deserted The only people they
saw were a lot Of men busy with ma
chine strengthening railroad rails. 50 as %
use them again. And they had certainly
been twisted into the most wonderful
shapes in the world.
The travellers route lay now through "A
dreary country aad endless scenes OF desc
lation. They failed % recognize It, IL WA
the "ShermaniLed district and only chin
neYs and heaps of ruins marked the sites
Of what had been smiling Villages
At last they reached Kesaca, and then
home. II had been. in army parIancs,
sacked aud gutied' Every window was
gone. 4 soldier, 10 WAS said. had tried bis
proves with picAaI to see 30 lee could
destroy window az "a single blow. H.
succeeded. the gappins hole, causing the
house 20 look like = blind thing
But the roof was there go shelter them,
and it belonged 70 them aud thnf was
great thing - they set o. work 20 make
Themselves comfortable
Before a great while they had In canvas
window glass, which, II 10 kept out most o.
the light, also kept out most Of the wind
Reminders Of the battle were scattered
about. The lock Of the front door having
been broken, it was kept clOsed by the aid
Of weight made out ~ half a torpedo
with which Gen. Wheeler bad blown up
the railroad track near their house old
parrot shells were used 70 prop open tho
windows, and The ire wsas stirred with
bayonet, and empty cartridge boxes wers
used As troughs 10 feed the cows ln. 20
that there was a wariike flavor about
things
But in years time the returned rsfu-
gee had g0t 20 % rights that there was
little 20 tell that the house had been ia tho
oenier Of the battlefield and been a holly
spot-onlythe grave Of a Confed-
crate soldier. who slept peacefully Ia tho
flower garden, where the roses waved above
hi head and scattered their perfumed
petals over his Erave-paui Grant ia AZ.
lanta Constitution.
4 Filler ta storks.
First Investor wasn't able - ret
around % the meeting last night Did