The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31
anderson Intelligencer.
A Letter from Southwest Georgia.


A Letter from Southwest Georgia.
EDITORS IETELLIGENCER: Our obser-
vations since leaving South Carolina may
have points of interest to the many read
ers Of the INTELLIGENCER, and by your
permission we will jot down few of
them, and allow the reader to take them
at their worth.
We left Anderson on the 18th Deem
ber, and had 8 pleasant ride over the
s. V. R. R. to Augusta. We arrived
there at IL a. M, and found the city all
on the move in the direction of the Ex-
position grounds. Vice President Ste
venson, Secretary Herbert, Secretary
Smith, Tom Corbett, the pugilist, and
Craig, the largest man in the world, had
already gone out, and were attracting
everything after them. We got in line
and took the first car that came along,
and though we had barely enough stand
ing room, we managed to reach the
grounds in safety. Vice President Ste
venson was addressing large crowd of
enthusiastic admirers, and was about
half way through when we reached tho
grounds. We heard the remainder Of his
address, and while we are unable to re-
call much that he said, the impression he
made upon us was more lasting. He bad
the look of an honest man and spoke like
short address. Secretary Hoke Smith
was the next speaker, and we would have
been glad to have listened to him, but
cur children were with US, and became
impatient to see what was going on in
other quarters, 80 we started out on a
tour of sightseeing. and for about four
hours we walked round and round, TAX
ing in everything as best we could until
we were all well-nigh exhausted. We
found quite a number Of side-shows in
side of the Exposition grounds, but the
chief one was where the "big man"
Craig, presided as the centre Of attrac-
ton When we first saw him he was
sitting with slouch hat on and news
paper in his hand reading. He reminded
us not of man, but of something made
on larger scale in imitation Of one. One
of our children turned to us and said {:
"Papa, that's not man, is it?" She
really thought that the object she saw
was an automatic machine; or something
gotten up to deceive; but when he laid
aside his paper and looked around, she
became convinced that it was no delu-
sion, but real live man Of vast proper
tions that she was looking at. He was
unable to either arise or sit down without
assistance, but when once on his feet he
seemed to be at perfect ease. We noticed
that his face wore an expression Of be-
nevolence, and as we approached him we
held out our hand, he extended his with
d smile, and we 'shook hands," He
seemed willing to talk, 30 we chatted
with him for some time, asking good
many questions, which he answered
pleasantly. He Is thirty.seven years old,
is six feet six inches high, and weighs
nine hundred and seven pounds. His
wife Is real pretty brunette, weighing
about one hundred and ten pounds. In
this same show was Spanish sword
swallower, who gulped down q sword as
half inches wide. We know nothing
about the anatomy Of the Spauiard, but
would naturally suppose there is pecu-
liarity about them not common to ordi.
nary men. He certainly swallowed the
sword, and no mistake I suppose, this
is quite an ordinary feat, but we had
never seen it done before. f'
We had gone out Of the main building
to take look at the Ferris Wheel, when
our attention was attracted by cheering
in the direction of the Grand Stand. We
concluded 10 walk down and ascertain
the cause. It was "sparring match"
going on between Corbett and his trainer,
but we arrived too late to see much Of
the fun, as they were just starting on
their last round. There was such 8
crowd around the arena that we saw but
little-quite enough, however, to satisfy
our curiosity with this kind of business.
After the match was over Corbett passed
out near where we were standing, and
we got good look at the champion Of
The world. What pity that such mus
Gle and such energy should be expended
80 uselessly and unworthily. We are op-
posed to this kind Of business first, last
and all the time, but If the fight must
come off between Corbett and Mitchell,
we would have Corbett to whip the Eng
lishman every time.
We left Augusta at twelve o'clock that
night, tired and sleepy enough, but rath-
or elated at our success In striking the
Exposition at a time so favorable to
sightseeing. We reached Macon at s
o'clock the next morning, and Dawson
at 8 In the evening. Here our relatives
met US with conveyances and brought us
within mile or so of our present home.
Our household goods that we had shipp-
ed by railroad had reached Dawson in
advance Of US, and it was but matter Of
q day or so before we were domiciled in
our now home. Dave and Harris-with
wagon, buggy, mules and dogs-were
only two days behind us in reaching this
place. Harris held on to his dog Tray,
(better known as Pup and landed him
safely. "Pup" is nothing but dog, but
Harris loved him and he loved Harris, 80
he could not think of losing or leaving
him behind. We are now pleasantly
situated six and a half miles from Daw-
son, our County site, and one and half
miles from Herod, our nearest postofice.
Herod can boast of store, postoffice, gin
merry, doctor-shop, blacksmith shop, corn
mill, church and school-house. Messrs.
Hass, Harris, Brim and McLain are the
firm and magnates Of this little village.
They are real live men, and are doing
thriving business. They carry $4,000
stock of goods, and gin about 1900 bales
of cotton every season. There are good
farms and good farming done in this Sec
ton, and but few desirable places offered
for sale. We are surrounded by pleasant
neighbors and contented in our new
home. We will ever cherish fond recol-
lections of our native State as we pass
down the corridors of time, and our wish
is that her people may be both prosper
GUS and happy. w. B. QUAILs.
Herod, Ga, Jan. 10, 1894.
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