The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-03-17
"RIPPLING WAVES"
She Writes an Interesting Letter
from Her Arkansas Home.
Terrible Effects of the Cola Spell-Three
Drunken White Men Found
Frozen to Death.

LUXoRA, ARK, March 10, 1899. EditOr
Columbia HeraId:-"Variety is the
spice of life" is an old nroverb, you
know. Well, | want to tell you the lat
ter part of our winter here has been
very spicy one, and but for the few in
tervening days of sunshine during the
month of February, the cold weather
would have been uncomfortable. Indeed,
there were few here who did not en-
dure it. One old negro man frOZe to
death while trying to make fire. When
found he was on the hearth, and the
wood and kindling in the fire place un-
burned, and the prints of the poor old
fellows knees were still in the ashes.
Another negro man became so cold
while out feeding several head of stock,
that he died in few minutes after gO-
ing in the house to the fire. Three
white men We're found on the railroad
one mile back of Luzora, cold in death.
They were strangers here, and upon en-
quiring for work were directed to one
of the saw mills; but the poor, unfortu-
nate creatures had been bitten by the
brewers dog (whisky) and they were
not able to reach the saw mill, but lad
to meet their God in that terrible condi-
ton. AS their names could not be
learned, they now fill three unknown
graves in strange land. These five
deaths occurred within two miles of us,
and there were others we heard of in
the county, but these will suffice to
show how extremely cold the weather
was here. The thermometer registered
at % and % degrees below zero on that
memorable Sunday and Monday.
We were made to feel quite proud of
the good people of our native town in
their noble work of assisting the poor,
on which "THE HERALD" keeps us
posted. The letter from j. S. Gilmore
speaks well for the appreciation of his
race. We have sent the paper to an
Editor here, who will republish it for
the benefit of our negroes.
| There " ere blocks of ice in the river
as large vs. good sized house, eXceptin
height, and they made it so dangerous
for the boats that not one ventured a
sail for two weeks, so we were that long
without mail here. 1t was extremely
f annoying, but before another winter
we will have railroad, and then Well
have no more such trouble.
The river is rising rapidly, and is al
ready out of banks in low places, and
with the water now in sight up the
river, by another week it will be out
against the levee but whether the over
flow will be as great as last spring is
now matter of conjecture.
The farmers are very backward with
all their work. They made good use of
the few springlike days last week, and
several acres were planted in potatoes,
but when they arose early Monday
: morning they found the earth wrapped
, in a mantel of white and the thermome-
ter at zero. They sat about in disgust
that is, some of them-and did not know
what to expect next. Not until this af-
: ternoOn has the ground been in a condi-
f ton to be worked, and the prospect for
/ rain tonight is very good.
I Owing to so many potatoes freezing
| here and the weather continuing so bad
there may not be so many acres planted
as the farmers had planned. Many had
sold all but enough to plant their own
crop, and lost all or so many that they
will have to buy at much higher price
than they sold for, and this is later than
some want to plant. Fire was kept up
;, in stoves night and day in the potato
houses, but some were little too late
starting their fires and lost heavily.
} While the snow was on the ground, a
1 negro man and his little boy went out
, in search of a missing hog, and when
, some distance from his house a large
! bear dashed by the man and made for
+, the boy, who saw him about the same
time his father did and called pleading
, ly to him, "shoot pappy, shoot him!
which he lost no time in doing and fired
. bGu tlIuCS DelOIG nulSIJ DIulu gave up
the chase and yielded up the ghost
, Only four loads took effect in the bears
body, and none hit the boy, although
the bear was between the father and
son. The man was very we'll paid, how
ever, for his scare, as he sold half the
bear meat for eight dollars and the hide
for eight. His experience kind o. made
y us all feel little uneasy for while, as
! he is only few miles from us and we
1 feared bear might wander out oul
way, too.
/ There have been two or three deaths
about here from meningitis, aud some
I have recovered who did not have 1t in q
violent form. Some pneumonia, too.
Quite sad and unexpected death oc
Cured in OsceOla two weeks ago. Mr.
5 &. c. Rochelle, with several others, was
8 rehearsing play they expected to er
act soon, and as was intended, he fell
= but unfortunately blood vessel burst
a in his brain and he died after few day:
of intense suffering. He and his family
were as talented musicians as the Shep
: herds of Columbia, and their band wa:
9 the pride of the town.
Mr.. Moore was telling a tree yester
day out near Crenshaw's saw-mill, anC
d in some way it struck him in falling
s and crushed his skull, and he died in ,
few hours.
Perhaps it is because Of our absence
ludl the ubFlalltN seeus W nave Deei
i greater i'm Maury County the past yeal
than ever before, as we remember il
g and none was so shocking To us as tht
: death Of our longtime neighbOr anC
. friend, Mrs. Jennie SOwell, whom {,
= know was to love, and our heartfelt
= sympathy is with those bereft of he
p sweet companionship and devotion.
s IL was also with deep regret that w
a read OF the demise OF our schOol-mate o
! | long AGO, Mrs. Hettie Rains As
/ schoolgirl she was a lovely character.
a Truly, the dark clouds of sorrow ar
= lowering over the home of our siste
:, correspondent, barbara" Nav thel
vanish, and the sunlight Of hope shin
q and abide in their stead.
n We heartily thank all who have s.
kindly sympathized with US In our re