The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-26
County THAT GAVE NO VOTES
Sonathing About Charlton County. Ga, an
the Okef efenake swamp.

Sop,.hing About Charlton County. Ga, and
the Okefenske swamp.
New York, Dec 25.-The World says:
There Is one county in one of the Unit
ed States where no election was held No
the right of franchise for which men
have fought and died. simply because the
officials did not know that this country
was ready to elect a president. and so no
arrangements were made for voting.
While the other seventy million and
odd inhabitants of this republic were
studying the financial question and list
ening to talk about free silver. gold stan
dard. plutocracy, reputation and other
things that grew monotonous. the $3.50
people who make up the population OF
Charlton county. Ga, pursued the even
tenor of their way, knowing nothing OF
the great struggle going on in the land
or of the principles involved. Election
day passed as had other days, and Mr..
Mckinley was elected president before
those simple Georgians knew that an
election had been held.
Charlton county is the sixth in size in
Georgia. 1t contains a population of s.
335 according to the census of 1890, and
has ,055 square miles of territory with
in its borders. Despite its size it con-
tains the smallest population OF any
county in the state. This is 10 be ac-
counted for by the fact that large part
Of Charlton county is under water. Tne
Okefenokee Swamp covers almost ali cf
the county, and it swarms with snakes,
alligators, fish and game. railroad
runs through the county, missing the
swamp by a few miles. Along this rail-
way are several stations, but the people
near them do not seem to be any more
awake than those who live where the
whistle Of the locomotive is never heard.
There are eight postoffices in Charlton
county. Four of the towns have enough
population TO be counted in the census.
the other four being mere villages. Trad
er's HILL the county seat, has popula-
ton of lis. Racepond has 295. VAIN
right has 213. and Folkston contains 2o6
inha bitants. This leaves about $500 peo-
pie living elsewhere in the county. which
allows each man, woman and Child
about $50 acres of land.
Four years ago there was an election
in Charlton county. At that time Cleve-
land received 1872 votes. Harrison got p.
IL Populs.s voted for Weaver and 2
patriots cast their votes for Bidwell, the
Prohibition candidate. In 1894 there was
an election for governor in Georgia, and
dS S46t SouAty iCSpOhNSUr
the Democratic candidate 213 votes and
his opponent 1S3. This was substan-
tial increase in two years.
The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the
largest swamps in the United States. be-
ing surpa ssed only by the Everglades OF
Florida. The swamp includes nearly all
of Ware, ciincl, Echols. Pierce and
Charlton counties in Georgia and Bake,
and Columbia counties in Florida. 1t IS
about 300 miles in circumference, and In
wet weather is almost wholly under
water. During a drouth the water re-
cedes into lakes and ponds, but even
then travel through the wilderness IS
we'll nigh impossible. Most of the land is
eral canals, but squatters live there, sub
susting by hunting. fishing and trapping
They raise little corn and enough to-
bacco for home consumption. but farm
ing is harder work than hunting and
fishing, and ii does not yield as large
returns.
The Okefenokee Swamp is hunts
mans paradise. The woods abound in
quail, duck. squirrel, turkey, deer and
bear. while the water is alive with trout,
perch, bass and channel cats. The only
method Of travel is by canoe, and IS
slow and difficult. Alligators and enorm-
ous water moccasins ,as we'll as other
poisonous snakes. add 10 the danger and
interest OF the trip, and have done much
to keep the country uninhabited and un-
explored
Near the center OF the swamp is an
sland on which one family has lived for
years. 1t is called Billy's Island, in hon-
Or or Billy Bowlegs. the famous Semiole
ch:ef who caused the United States gov
much trouble a century ago.
AFTER beginning his depredations by
white family near Way-
ross. Ga, Billy Bowlegs retreated to the
stand which now bears his name and re-
NAMED there until he went TO the fast
less OF the Everglades, where he died.
A generation ago white man, James
Lee, and his wife went from North Car
'hna to Bflly's Island and made a clear
ng. built a log house and raised one
,hild- When she grew to wonanhoo1
ne married and continued to live there.
She and her husband raised family OF
hirteen, and all OF them yet live In the
og house built by James Lee Two or
nree OF the children have married, but
ney remain in the old home, and now
ne Lee family is the only one on Biily's
sland. They are uneducated and ap-
,arently happy. They know absolutely
lothing of the outside world. and 60 10
he nearest settlements only once or
vice a year 10 secure necessary SUM-
'lies. The father of the present genera
ion is known as the king OF the Okefeno-
tee, as was his father-in-law, the first
white man to settle there
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY
'ake Laxative Bronlo Quinine Tablets.
III druggists refund the money Il 1t
ais TO cure. 25c.
HANNA Is NO CONsCMPTIvE