The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-29

suited as 1t Did.
Charles P. Lee, Of Rocky Mount,
nephew OF General Robert E. Lee. and
prosperous lawyer of that place was in
the city yesterday. In the corridor of
the Ponce de Leon to TIMES man he
said: FRANKLIN county regard as be-
ing in prosperous condition. 1t is
rich in mineral resources, which have
begun to be developed. and as number
of Roanoke spectators have recently
been buying options on property we
look forward to considerable develop
ments. Your Roanoke business mon
are like bees; they never visit honey.
less flowers, and we regard their pres
ence as good indication. For years
the farmers OF our county have not
raised as fine crops AS they have this
season. The acreage of wheat has been
increased and the orop Is magnificent.
lone farmer in the county has har-
vested thirty bushels of wheat for one
bushel seeded. OF course this is excep-
tional, but it will give you an idea of
what we can do over in that part Of the
county. But great as it is as farming
section 1t Is my opinion that its future
as fruit growing section will, from q
paying standpoint, eclipse it at no very
distant day. Apples are already grown
In abundance. and of the best variety,
and pears, peaches, plums and other
fruits can be grown with equal success.
Heretofore we have raised great deal
OF tobacco, but as our market is in the
cotton growing States. and the low
price of that commodity has effected all
trade there the price has declined, and
our farmers are holding their tobacco
for better market. Perhaps this
cause has also operated to decrease the
average to some little extent this year"
Mr.. Leo said that several industries
were springing up in his section, and
amongst them the Luray Tanning Com
pany had established extensive works
at two or there places in the county. He
returned on the evening train to Rocky
Mount.
At Hotel Roanoke yesterday was q
gentleman who spent the last winter in
Florida. end to companion told the
following story: North of Lake
Ocochobee is a vast dismal swamp miles
wide, the interior Of which, so far as
known, has never been explored by any
one. Our party went on weeks fish
and camp hunt to lake that lies not
far from the borders of this swamp.
The weather was clear, not a cloud to
be seen anywhere, but on my arrival
was attracted by a blue haze which
seemed not larger than blanket and
appeared to hang motionless, suspended
over about the center of the swamp.
Day after day it remained there and
one morning soon after sunrise there
came from that direction noise which
resembled the distant boom of q cannon.
AT intervals all through the day it
continued but at sunset it ceased and
the haze seemed to be tinged somewhat
with red, but whe ther from the reflec-
ton OF the sun am unable to say. The
next day farmer living near came into
the camp and we asked him if he could
explain 1t. He informed us that he
| could not but that the haze hung over
the center of the swamp just where we
had seen 1t, and at intervals. sometimes
as long as year between, the rumb bling
noise that we had heard occurred, and
sometimes continued for two or three
days. He said that there was current
legend that in ages gone by the great
chief, Sostowattoomie, who led the Sem
inoles into Florida, had on his death
bed promised them that he would al
ways guard and watch over them, and
that this haze was the smoke of his
camp fire in the happy hunting grounds
and these rumblings the sound of his
voice telling them that his promise was
not forgotten. | have seen severa, per-
sons who have witnessed the same
scene that we did but 1 have never
heard any explanation of it offered"
Herbert Brent, of Baltimore, was at
the Ponce de Leon yesterday. Mr..
Brent was member of the Seventh
Virginia cavalry during the late war
and remembers the personal appear
ance and the little peculiarities OF
Stewart, Pelham, Jackson and the other
great Southern leaders and can tell
many interesting events of the great
struggle. He said: From the first
knew that we would fail; the odds
against us were too great. The world
believed that we were fighting to uphold
slavery and that alone damned US with
all OF the civilized nations. After all
IL was best that it ended as it did. The
dismemberment of the Union would
have been the worst thing that ever
happened and civilization has grown
up on the ruins OF slavery that excels
the old Virginia suffered greatly, but
she has arisen from her ashes and a
glorious era OF manufac turing and COM
mercial prosperity is before her that is
going to eclipse the dreams Of the past"
Peoples Party Wants 1t All.
YANKToN, OAK, July Chairman
Miller, Of the Democratic State Cen
trail committee, is authority for the
statement that all efforts to effect a
fusion with the Peoples party on the
State ticket is unavailing. The Peo-