The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-07-06
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
BY J. I. POWER.

BY ]. L. POWER.

very youthtal. comes 10 US fnn OF
good things. and seems to have deter
mined to gather together for its readers.
matters of historic interest. There are
very few communities in which there
has not been, at some time. occurrences
Of more than ordinary interest. These.
while not always of historic value, are
always OF local value, and should be
collected and preserved. The writer
has long desired to make a trip
through the interior sections of Miss.
issippi, for the special purpose of col.
leoting just such information, and in
addition TO all of these valuable stories
the world would be amazed at the great
wealth of curious and beautiful old
treasures hidden away in the homes
OF Mississippi.
Among the things of which the
Meteor speaks is an interesting relic
in the shape of sword of the Reyo.
luton owned by Mr.. J. NJ. Thompson.
of Maben, and descended to him
through his grandfather. John Thomp-
son, who came to this country from
Scotland in 1851. He was then is years
old. and died at the age of SO, and was
buried in Henry county, Va. Mr..
Thompson enlisted at the beginning of
the war, and served through it-seven
years. The sword which his grandson
so values has a blade 231s inches long
and Ia inches wide. The handle is
51a inches. making the sword 26 inches
long. 1t would seem a cumbersome
weapon to the soldier of today, but
history records that It did valiant ser
vice in the attack on Stony Point, as
well as many other places.
Mr.. Thompson was fourteen years
old when his grandfather died. but he
recalls, viyidly the wonderful stories
he used to tell, of his fighting days.
Particularly does he recall the story
of Stony Point-that memorable at
tack. The old soldier said that 1t
was our plan to scale the wall--a few
men to go at first. and when the Brit
ish fired a voney the rest of the Ameri
cans who stood with ladder and bayonei
were to charge the British before they
could reload. or the hundred mer
who answered the call for volunteers
only twenty were chosen for this des
perate attack. Seventeen of the twent,
were either killed or wounded, and o
the three remaining, one was Mr.
/ thompson, one a man ma ned Clegg
and the other name has been forgot
/ ten.
The capture of Stony Point ION tn,
Hudson about 40 miles above New
York; has been carefully looked vi
by the Meteor's correspondent, anC
does not differ essentially from thii
most interesting of many Grand
fathers tales" that our people coulc
remember.
Communications have appeared In
several State papers recently, touching
the longevity of certain citizens In
the various sections from which these
letters were written. All of thess
have been read with interest because
Il is pleasure to know that the
days of a good man have been long
in the land" A correspondent from
Ackerman has, so far, earned the blue
ribbon by his report of an old gentle
man and lady. Mr.. and Mrs. Shumaker
who had lived to the good old age oi
101 and 100 years. Up to a few years
before her death, Mrs. s. walked
seven miles to churcn each Sabbath
Another aged citizen of that section
Mr.. Whitehead, despite his ninety
three (93) years, continues to do ali
his farm work-plows, makes rails
ETC., and does it as well and as rapidly
as men on the bright side Of fifty. Mr.
Whitehead helped build the first Court
House at Louisville, Miss. Among
the numerous things that set this old
citizen apart as remarkable, is the fact
that he thinks nothing of going to
town, horseback (14 miles) to trans
act his business-and more wonder
ful still, he has his third set of natural
Tor should we say un-natural?) teeth,
In excellent condition. Ackerman
should advertise her air and water
along with other attractions-and VIC
will soon have people journeying to
Central Mississippi in search OF the
Fountain of Youth.
A correspondent from neighborine
shipping point writes to the Crystal
Springs Meteor that, despite the good
quality OF vegetable shipments this
season, the prices have not been good
because Of what is termed false
packing" This 1t seems, has beer
practiced so extensively by some
shippers as 10 have injured, In a meas
ure, all In that section. This is bad
for the section and the State. as II
takes much longer to kill bad name
than 1t does TO make good one and
that Is saying a good deal. Trucl
( farming has done too much for ths
/ planters Of this section for them Il
allow their reputation to be injured
/ by a few careless, or dishonest, pack
ers. The Meteor's advice Is good anG
should be needed.
While 'hoeing bis own row" In thu
cotton fields OF Webster county las
spring, farmer turned up, along will
the dirt, an old piece of silver. whicl
turned out to be coin bearing tn
following inscription: Del Gratii
Carolus ILL.,. 1928" On the revere
side Is: "Hispau ct Ind Rex M. z
! |. j." The coin is in a remarkably
- a A