The age-herald., 1899-09-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

| Rose, who died few years after the war between the states" said H. l.. Williams, 1 of Wetumpka "He did everything in his power to have Wetumpka selected as the capital of the state. when the seat of gov l ernment was removed from Tuscaloosa. | Failing in that worthy ambition, he se- l cured the location of the penitentiary, a
 doubtful benefit to the community. Rose
 was one of the most remarkable men. of
 his day. He owned near Wetumpka a
 splendid plantation of 6.O00 acres, and pos- sessed a regiment of slaves. He was a man
 of great wealth for that time. and was 1 sort of banker for all that section of coun- | try. His house was large and roomy and he lived luxuriousy. His brandy, for ex- ample was imported direct from France
 through the port of Mobile, and cost him something like twenty-five dollars a gallon. That with his other luxuries and general | supplies, were transported up the Alabama and Coosa rivers and delivered at his door,
 you may say. That part of what is now | Elmore county was then in Coosa, which | county he represented in the state senate
 He was an ardent union man. and when the Wetumpka company was being equip ped for the confederate service he declined ! to subscribe any portion of the cost. To 1 the ladies who called upon him for assist ance he said No. not cent of my money for such a purpose! I'd rather buy shrouds for the men than to them depart upon such a mission.' After the fight was on, however. he gave generously of his worldly goods to the confederate cause"
 During the war Rose kept great sum of in in nd al bOISp v tinued Mr. Williams, "and towards the end of the strife he grew uneasy on account of possible trouble with federal raiders So he decided to place some of his gold in the custody of his neighbors. He took a l oag containing $25,0O0 to my father, Mr Thomas Williams, and Nike to Gov ernor Fitzpatrick and possibly other sums to other neighbors. The money given to MT Williams to keep buried by him in his garden in the presence of his wife and a lady who was a member of the household. One night many months after wards a band of irresponsible raiders, ruff fans following in the wake of regular fed eral troops, rode up to Roses house and demanded his money He replied that he had no money about the house, whereupon they put a rope around his neck, threw the rope over the limb of tree in the yard and pulled the old man off his feet, nearly killing him in the effort to force him to tell where his money was. This made Rose fighting mad He cursed them violently and informed them that he did have god but that he'd die before he'd tell them where to find it. They spared his life and made search of his house, cutting open his sofas, the velvet-cushoned chairs oeds, and making havoc generally Not finding anything, they rode away. Rose then gave one of his slaves a twenty-dollar gold ! piece to run across country and warn MT. Williams. Shortly after the messenger arrived, to find MT. Williams absent, party of Mississippi confederates, on their way home halted at the gate and asked for food. They camped in the front yard that night, and the ladies of the house felt no further uneasiness. Next day MT. Will Hams dug up Roses gold and carried ir to him. When Rose was being strung up by the raiders all his big crowd of slaves stood by and made no effort to save their master. although the raiders numbered less than a dozen. Afterwards he called the negroes before him and talked to them about their ingratitude in not coming to his assistance. He had years before made a will freeing the slaves at his death and setting apart his fortune for the purpose of transporting them to Australia and buying homes for them He read the will to them. and then, tearing it into fragments and throwing pieces in the road he said: Now you may go, and never let me see you again. You are free Rose, at his death. left over $20O,0OO in gold.''
 
 Robert w. Smith, passenger agent of the Mobile and Ohio railroad at Birmingham
 Is in Birmingham. Asked about busi- ness in Alabama's seaport, MT Smith said Mobile was prospering and the imme, diate outlook for the city was most prom- 1sing. The channel in the harbor is being constantly deepened, new steamship lines are being put into operation, the city is putting in thorough system of modern sewerage, new waterworks are being con- | structed, streets are being paved anG---ae | city is rapidly growing. The roadbed of the new line of the Mobile and Ohio from Artesia, Mississippi, to Montgomery, distance of 1SO miles, is now in first class condition, and it is common thing for the passenger trains to iii'ifNe iNi ~ -iiNc iiileS all lOuT. lne MODle and Ohio is doing the largest business it ever has done and its business is certain to go on increasing.
 
 It is given out that John Trotwood Moore, of Columbia, Tenn, author of Songs and Stories of Tennessee" is pre- pairing volume to be entitled Songs and Stories of Alabama" This statement Is | of special interest to MT. Moore's many personal friends in this state, and Is of l general interest to all Alabamians. Mr. Moore is son of Hon. John Moore, of