The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-04
EVILS OF ELECTRICITY.
How a Happy Negro Family Came to
Grief Richmond.

As prosperity goes with "A colored man,
lanes Robertson. "a negro. from up
Louisa way. is prosperous. He raises
cabbage. turnips and millions and dis
poses OF them az fair profit On summer,
and works around his own ten acres and
the acres Of other farmers In the neigh
bornoOd I'm winter. and makes quite a
comfortable livelihood.
lie has been living this sort Of life for
ten or twelve years his burdens of ex-
istence being shared by a black, but dill
gent. helpmeet.
James two daughters. dusky and
kinkv haired. among the others OF his
extensive brood. are the pride of their
fathers heart and 30 is his constant ei-
fort 10 satisfy their slightest whms.
James has a relative, who In the day
time is one Of the sleek. suavc white
aproned fraternity I'm a Philadelphia no.
tel. and at night gravciy presides over
the deliberations Of some Lime Kiln club,
as becomes his station as prosperous
citizen of the sleepy burg.
This eminent relative has written many
letters 20 his Virginia kinsman. and each
has contained ths request that James
come up and bring his family
With life's burdens bearing such
weight on James shoulders. il was OBJ
viouslv impossible for him 10 spare the
time for "a visit. but the happy thought
occurred 10 him of sending his daughters
I'm the way Of a surprise 90 the natives
Of Philadelphia.
SO yesterday early the two kinky-haired
damses and two gigantic trunks OF a
pattern seldom seen outside O. curiosity
shop, and containing AN necessary temi-
nine impediments. We're loaded into the
hickory wagon. and behind the one am
cient animal with James driving the cara
van headed for town.
40 was doubtless pleasant journey Tor
an but the AGED horse. which was farm
bred brute and not used 90 CRY excite
ment.
AN went well however until the caval-
cade struck the corner of Main ana
Seventh streets.
The animal had passed without more
than noticing several bicycles ana saw
mills on the way DOB town. ana ola het
seem TO mind them muon. uut the HI- Hl
of am electric car proved too great a
shock for his equine nerves
The first notice The animal gave tiih
ANYTHING was wrong was Wheu me- stdI tlru
his master by coming TO "a halt win a
euddcuuess tnat threw the girls ana
trunks together coufusecly. DC was q zee
markahle demonstration, and its reason
was not apparent until Main-streei car
I'm a maze of sparks. was seen skimmlnB
over the landscape of Main street
That was enough FOR the morse anu
me changed his tactics with Dound.
with both hind feet threatening ami
biiati0n 10 everything in the vehicle. be
alternately kicked and bOited. This feai
was brought TO a sudden close Wnen the
| brute started 20 run.
| Thn wagon. 10 the sides or Wnicn ine
occupants chung I'm terror, was suuaehly
overturned. Each OF the trunks landed
ON one of the girls. who. however. We're
not hurt IN the fan. With the tatnef
| however. matters Jared harder. ana u
was some time before he could pc eN-
! bumed from the wreck of the wagon.
| lie bod sustained "a severe cut over the
| temple. which Dr. Gwathmey, OK ihe tils
| uoerital. was called upon 20 repair.
| The Philadelphia trip had 10 De aoah
/ InulI