Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-27
LETTER FROM HOODTOWN.

Increased Use of Fertilizers-The Political
situation-Unusual Misunderstanding
Fight Against Fire-Measles and Mala-
ria-The Sick.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
HooDTowN, March 25.-Some of the
farmers have commenced putting in
guano; but the great majority are not done
hauling it out yet, and will not be ready
for distributing for some days. 1t is the
impression of great many that half as
much more will be used as was last year.
Some will use it under corn, however,
and after all, there may not be such big
increase in the cotton crop even with a
favora BILE season. Your correspondent
went to Hickory Grove few days ago on
business, and was struck with the large
amount of guano being hauled out. 1t
seemed to be guano day there as the little
"burg" was all astir with life, and while we
staid there quite procession of wagons
drove out freighted with that popular ar
ticle of commerce. We like to see signs
of life about town, but would rather see
it tout" in some other manner.
Our citizens who belong nearly altogeth-
or to the agricultural class, are too busy
on the farm to take much of hand in the
political situation at present; but, all the
same, they are reading the news, and will
be prepared to think and act Alright when
the time comes for decisive action. l
notice few March chickens coming on,
however, and no doubt the candidates
will fare we'll when they come around to
scan the political horizon. Most OF the
candidates who have loomed up here for
public favor, are '''standing" ones, and
but few votes will be required to secure
their election. We wish them all happy
consummation of their hopes and expec-
tations.
1t seems that we are passing through a
storm period, probably the one predicted
by the Chester prophet. Last Wednesday
night was quite stormy, and Monday
night the wind blew a perfect gale from
the northeast, followed yesterday by a
light fall of snow, sleet and rain for a
short while. The severe freeze of Friday
night, followed by the cold raw weather
since, has doubtless doomed considera-
BILE portion of the peaches; but it is to be
hoped that enough will be left for pies
and canning purposes. We will look on
the bright side of the picture until COM
PEELED to view the dark, as we all got tired
of eating black berries two years ago.
However, it is hardly to be expected that
we will have two good fruit years together.
While Mr.. F. NJ. Pruitt was burning
brush last Wednesday, some sparks were
carried by the wind, igniting an old
dead oak, near which stood an old build
ing in which were stored about rs BUSH
els of cotton seed, one bale of cotton, all
his fodder and quantity of wheat straw.
The roof was soon on fire, and with great
difficulty, with all the available help, the
fire was kept under control. Sparks from
the roof at different times caught inside
the building in the straw, etc., and once
the bale of cotton was ablaze but, finally,
all the contents were removed and the
flames extinguished by carrying water
from the we'll. Taken altogether 1t was
quite an exciting time. A colored man
climbed the old tree before it had burned
much to extinguish the fire, and soon the
flames burst forth and he thought serious
ly about leaping for his life; but the
flames subsiding somewhat, he got down
safely. The services of several women
W ere called into requisition, and it took
hustling on the part Of all to save the
property.
Measles have died out in this neighbor-
hood, but will not down. On the outskirts
of th is neighbood, the families of Messrs.
Will liam Love and J. B. Stephenson have
been the fastest victims of its ravages.
Some ofthe old time malaria still fingers
among us. Mrs. NJ. w. Lathem and Miss
Hannah McSwain have been suffering
from its effects several days.
Mrs. E. A. Lathem is still in rather bad
health. She has not altogether recovered
from her recent severe illness, mentioned
before in this correspondence.
Mr.. J. s. Hood is suffering from an
acute attack of sciatica, but is still able to
''hop" abouta little.
Mrs. Diana Beard, of Blacksburg, who
has been visiting her son, Mr.. w. L. M.
Beard, returned home on Monday.
Lee Powell recently sold somewhat
rare specimen of the equine family for one
dozen apples. He considers it bargain
too. Now, doubtless, the animal OF many
winters is in a more congenial cline, in
the bounds of the "Old North State"
VocE.