The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-29
MATCHES IN WAR TIMES.
Queer Franks of Lucifers Made in
Atlanta.
Wallace p. Reed. in Chicago Times-Her-
AID

Atlanta.
Wallace p. Reed, in Chicago Times-Her-
aid.
The iato war caused the southern people
to realize the utter helplessness Of pure
ly agricultural community when thrown
upon its own resources and cut off from
communication with the outside world.
As the months rolled on # became more
dihicult for the inhabitants Of the con-
federacy to supply themselves with many
of the necessaries and conveniences OF
everyday life Matches, for instance. were
used by millions of people, but IL was
impossible TO run them through the block
AIDE in sufficient quantities. 1t soon be-
came evident hat tthey must be manu-
featured at home, but how was IL to be
doneY The machinery was lacking and
also the materials.
James Mcpherson, public-spirited
book seller IN Atlanta, was one of the
first to attempt TO solve the problem. At
considerable expense he succeeded In
getting some machinery phosphorus and
sulphur through the blockade, and in
short time his match factory was In OPP
Grafton.
The factory was situated few miles
from the city, and the matches were
stored in McPhersons book store and
sold there by wholesale and retail. They
were made Of poplar and sold In square
blocks, the factory not being provided
inexperienced workmen found It a hard
matter TO turn out matches that would
light. At nrst about the only way to make
them available was 10 bring them in con-
tact with the dying embers in Fireplace
but this was inconvenient, and efforts were
made to improve the quality Finally, the
composition was changed, and the matches
blazed up at the lghtest touch.
1t was not necessary to strike them
They were self-acting. and unexpectedly
broke out at odd hours Of the day and
night. The clerks in the book store had
double work In those exciting days When
they were selling books they had to watch
the big boxes CONTAINING the matches, and
roll them out into the street the moment
they began TO smoke. once in the street,
the boxes would be emptied and the con-
tents left until they were reduced to
ashes.
There was not much profit in an article
containing the elements Of self-destruc-
ton, and night watchman had TO be em-
ployed to remain IN the store and drag
out the boxes as soon as they showed in
dications Of spontaneous combustion. But
tho factory was an Atlanta enterprise. and
the people were proud of IT, At least, It
was a beginning. IT was a sign of prom
ise and showed that in spite OF the block
ade there were enterprsing men in the
south who had the pluck and energy to
risk their fortunes and 20 to work to build
up the industries Of the country.
1t was not long before the discovery was
matches was first class rat poison
Here was a new source of revenue for the
manufacturer. The stuff was put up IN
little tin boxes and advertised as a rat
eXtermnator. If Mcpherson could not
boast of the superior quality Of his
matches, he could at least feel proud of
his rat poison. The compound sold rapi-
dly for the supplies of grain stored in the
city by the confederates caused the place
to swarm with fierce rodents of the larg-
est size
But there was one difficulty in the way
and an unfortunate incident soon destroy
ed the popularity of the poison and there
was a sudden falling off in the demand
for 1t. At that time there was a hat store
nearly opposite tho book store. Holbrook
the owner, had no end of trouble with rats
and one day in his wrath he determined
to make clean sweep Of them. Purchas-
ing several boxes of the eXterminatOr he
laid some big slices of stale bread on his
counter and covered them with the poi
son. He spread the mixture on the bread
with a case knife and rubbed it in vigor-
ously.
with with a big blonde beard reaching
nearly to his waist. Just as he was Civ
ing about quarter OF a pound OF the
stuff one Of his most energetic rubs on
hard slice of bread, 1t suddenly blazed
up ike gunpowder. The flames set fire
to Hoibrook's handsome whiskers, and
when his clerks had thrown a bucket of
water over him the astOnished and fright
ened halter would hardly have been
recognized by his best friend Selling
the half consumed piece of bread he
rushed across the street to the book store
where's McPherson?" the snged and
blackened visitor shouted.
"Out at the factory" replied a clerk.
What Is the matter. Mr.. Holbrook?"
Matter enoughy yelled the other. See
what this internal rat poison has donei
1t has almost killed me, ruined my whisk-
kers, and il came near burning down nv
store. Tell Mcpherson that want to see
him right away. / would rather fight a
million rats than fool with this blasted
old poisonr'
And the angry man darted back to his
store without giving any further details OF
his misadventure. A visit to his barber,
however, made him more presentable. and
he was soon In a better humor
"Ill be dashed If 1 know what to do"
said Mcpherson. I'VE must have rat pois-