The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-04

| that he resorted to a dangerous drug "a
| sun his anxiety, and In now bereft OF
home and wife, the woman's death be-
ing FASTENED by the change In the once
One man, somewhat elderly but full
| OF life and vigor. gave up his prosperous
| business and lovely home In Vermont
town TO invest all at Fort Payne This
man, suddenly aged. by this bhghting
trouble, his nervous condition developing
into insanity, died alone and deserted In
Masssc husetts insane asylum last july
Another man was so overcome with
excitement In the early days--so troubled
that he could not get all the land he
wantcd-that his brain became unbai-
anced and he is now an Inmate In an
insane asylum. Many others followed IN
his pathway. and suicides were frequent
One young man who had inherited a
snug fortune placed IL all In the hahus
OF trusted agent TO betnvested tor MIN
at Fort Payne, so great was ms lai.h
in the place. A charming VILE was 10
be built fol him on the OUTSKIRTS OF the
town, for he was coming with MS Drlde
In the fall. The house was never occu-
pied save by tramps, and 1t STANDS alone
and deserted.
One of the chief officers OF the com
pany man respected by all, or strictest
integrity, surrounded BY friends and ny
every comfort, prominent attorney In
his own city, left all behind TO place his
fortune here This man thoroughly be-
lieved In the greatest success for the ven
ture and, reaching out In all directions.
brought every friend and relative ne
could to the place, desiring them to share
in the glor1o IS profits to come. He has
left all behind him to begin life anew in
a Northern city. He Is broken In spirit.
To all his own troubles ne has the added
pang Of remorse-for the friends and kin
bred wrecked through their faith in him.
Many many other instances of horror
and despair could be quoted, for OF all
the bright glory only ashes remain.
PORT PAYNE TO-DAY.
The writer was painfully impressed
by the desolate appearance the niue
town presented recently. IL was night
when the visitor arrived and the black
ness of old Lookout. grim and dark
against the horizon, but emphasized the
painful contrast to the appearance OF the
gay little city four years ago. IL Is a
tragic tale-the rise and fan OF this little
town, carrying with It desolation and de-
SPAR into so many once happy homes
and hearts In New England.
The beautiful homes, costing so many
thousands of dollars. laid out with such
loving pride, are owned now by the ma
tives of the place-people who had lived
i'm cabins" before the boom. whose
farms" had been 80 eagerly pargained
for and who could afterward use the
money thus given them TO buy for mere
SONG the lovely homes built there. THOSE
who do not buy calmly select house
anywhere-and proceed 10 dwell therein.
No rent. can be collected from them, for
they once more rule the town so Won
der;ully improved for them by the yam
KEGS
All the industries are lying idle, many
of them dismantled by the men having
charge Of them for the past three years,
selling the fine machinery to pay their
own salaries. All is waiting for pur-
chaser. The whole town, costing more
than 100000, could be bought to-day
for $4,000 or less. But who will buy?
ONE WISE NAN.
or all the outsiders who invested IN
Fort Payne but one is recalled who did
hot suffer by the reaction. lie did not
wait for II to come. He arrived early
i'm the spring Of 1889, without money and
apparently friendless For weeks he sat
around in the different real estate offices
constantly smoking an old pipe. No one