Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-09-05
RICH SECTION
First Train Over the Gulf and
Ship Island Road Started
FULL OF TRAGEDY
History Of New Line to Coil
Outlet Attended by Series
OF Fatilities.

The first train over the new road to
the gulf of Mexlco-the Gulf and Ship
Island-left Jackson, Miss, at G:3O the
other morning, reaching the terminus,
Gulfport, at 2 o'clock, says the Chicago
Times Herald. A number Of state Off
cials, together with officers of the road,
made the trip. At Gulfport banquet
was given in the evening, and many
speeches were made that predict fu-
ture for the new seacoast city. Gulf
| port Is nothing more than a village
now. At Jackson, the northern termi-
nus, connection Is made with the I'LL
nois Central and the Alabama and
Vicksburg branch of the Cincinnati
Southern road. 1t is believed that the
Gulf and Ship Island will eventually
be extended to Memphis, and when
that Is done the expectation Is that
some of the grain trade Of the north
west will be sent abroad via Gulfport.
The road passes through section of
the state that Is new to civilization.
Many of the inhabitants along its line
had never seen locomotive engine I'M
til the work trains appeared and awak-
ened echoes from the hills which had
heretofore caught only the cries of the
wildcat, the dying groans of feudists
and the piercing crack of the hunts
mans rifle. The road passes through
portion of Jones county, which seeded
from the Confederacy during the civil
war and set up an independent govern
ment. 1t traverses Wayne county,
which has fewer Bibles per capita than
any other county In the nation. 1t
splits Green county almost In twain,
and some of the roadbed Is made OF
dirt on which the notorious Murrell
and Copeland gang of murderers and
outlaws made their rendezvous for
decade.
The road opens to the lumber trade o
virgin pine forest. 1t Is estimated that
within the next five years more than
1000, 100000 feet of timber will go to
the north on cars hauled by this new
line. The land adjacent is favorable
for raising fruits and grapes, but it has
never been cultivated. Not painted
house Ia to be seen between Jackson
and Gulfport. The inhabitants for the
most part have existed among them.
selves without having come In contact
with the outside world. The road will
make the work of the revenue agent
less perilous. Illicit distilleries have
flourished for years unmolested in
much of the territory because officers
have been afraid to penetrate its ra-
vines, hollows and hillsides.
The history of this road has been at
tended by more tragic deaths than that
of any other enterprise started In the
south since the civil war. Twenty-Five
years ago Colonel Jones s. Hamilton
married one of the bellies of MISSISSIPPI
pi, Miss Fanny Buck. Their first child
was son, and he was named for his
father, John S., Jr. On the day Of the
child's baptism Colonel Hamilton said
to his wife that he would build rail-
road, that his heir might become Its
president when he had attained his
majority. Colonel Hamilton selected
the terminal point, and Mrs. Hamilton
gave Gulfport its name. Twenty-four
hours after the last spike had been
driven which made the road complete
between these two points Jones s.
Hamilton, Jr., was killed by the cars in
the yards at Jackson. That was a few
weeks ago. Colonel Hamilton still
holds an interest in the railway COM
pany, and it was bis sons aim to escort
number Of his young friends to Gulf
port on the train the other day. In
stead his grave received new flowers
from those he expected to entertain.
Il In 1884, after a survey of the road
had been made, Colonel Hamilton i'll
terested Chicago capital in pushing the
road to completion. At the time he
was lessee Of the state penitentiary. q
state senator, chairman of the eXecu
, tive committee of the Democratic party
and the wealthiest man in the state
His home, Belhaven, was the most
magnificent in the country. 1t sat or
an emInence two miles from the state
house and contained 600 acres in flow
er yards, tennis courts and fishing
pools His reputation for lavish hospt
tally was known throughout the south
} In his political affairs Colonel Hamil
ton encountered the bitter opposition Of
John H. Martin, descendant Of Chie1
Justice John Marshall; T. Dabney Mar
shall, a literary and art critic, and Rod
7 erick Dhu Gambrell, who were the
leaders Of the prohibition movement
Bitter personalities were exchanged
and Hamilton was challenged by Gam
brell to fight duel. Attacks on Colo
mel Hamilton continued, and In May
1886, he and Gambrell met on tn
bridge which divides East from Wes
jackson. There were no eyewitnesse
to what followed, but when the GROVE
got to the place, having been attracted
/ by shots, Gambrell was dead, ant
q Hamilton was seriously wounded.
The affair caused great excitement
There was talk Of lynchlng Hamilton
: and the residents, about evenly divided
y between the factions, came so near to
clash that a call for the militia wa
necessary. Meantime Gambrelrs pic
ture was being sold throughout the civ
ilized world. Boxes Of them wer
r shipped to Australia and to Africa
~r,-. N yIrNlo III 81 toI n rI11