davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Death of Mr.. Robert r. Bridgers

A telegram received here yesterday
conveyed the sad intelligence that Mr..
Robert r. Bridgers died Wednesday
afternoon at Il sanitarium at North
Adams, Mass.
The deceased was born at Tarboro,
n. c.. and was a Sol of the late Col
onel r. r. Bridgers, 81 long president
of the Wilmington and Weldon railroad
and the principal promoter in the or
ganiZation of the Atlantic Coast Line
system. He was a while superinten-
dent of a division of the Southern Rail-
way Ii subsequently engaged in the
lumber business in Georgia. He leaves
a wife and our children, and surviving
him are his mother, Mrs, M. E. Bird
gers, of this city. and two brothers and
two Sisters-Messrs. Preston l.. Bird
gers, Mr.. George Bridgers and Misses
Mary and Emily BridgerS. All the
family, except Mr.. George Bridgers,
were with him when he died. Mr..
Preston Bridgers left here Thursday Of
last week to go to his bedside. The
numerous friends of the deceased and
his family learned of his death with
great sorrow and sincere sympathy will
be felt for the bereaVed relatives.
The remains will be inferred at North
Adams but will be brought to Will
mington and inferred in Oakdale GEM
etery in the winter.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
LEArED FROM
Foolhardy Act OF q Negro Who was
Caught While Stealing q Ride He
Jumped on Near Warsaw and Broke
His Neck Against n Whistle Post.

Wednesday night while the north
bound train On the Atlantic Coast Line
was within q few miles of Warsaw an
unknown negro jumped from the train
and was instantly killed. The train
was running at good speed and the
man jumped against a whistle post.
breaking his neck. The negro was
about - years OF age.
Captain Haywood Clark was conduc-
tor OF the train. After IL left Magnolia.
Baggage Master Branch discovered two
negroes riding or the bind baggage
ahead OF the mail car. He took the
negroes back TO the baggage a so fare
could be collected or that they could be
put OF b train at Warsaw. When the
negroes were gotten into the baggage
car. one oF them made q das for the
open door n 1eaped into the dark
with the awful result mentioned. The
other neg 20 made no effort 20 scape
n was put OF the train at Warsaw.
AS soon as possible after the negro
jumped from the train Baggage Mas
ter Branch notified Captain Clark who
stopped the train at the section house
neal warsaw aad told the section mas
ter to go back and ascertain IL the ne
| gro was nurt. The section master went
| down the rack Immediately and found
the dead body of the negro alongside
| track :
The o began an inquest yester-
day, and viii complete the ~investiga-
ton today. Captain Clark and Bag
gage Master Branch went up yester-
day to attend the inquest as witnesses.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Effect of Thunde

Of tn army of 40,O 900 fishermen that
occasionally or regularly wet lines in
the waters contiguous to New York
50, 200 never think of going a-fishing
after two or three days of thunder and
lightning. They know better. The
other 5000, hopeful and imaginative,
with nothing better to do, take a
chance at it anyway, and come home
with fisherman's luck. The highest
authorities among bay men tell me
that thunder drives the fish into deep
water off shore, and hat vivid light
ming so disturbs their sleep that they
take a day or two off for rest and re-
cuperation. Thus it happens that on
the third day after a hard storm with
illumination and pyrotechnics the catch
is phenomenal, whereas on h first Or
second there Is no sport except sailing
DER the bouncing pillows or groaninG
on a ground swell.-New York Press.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
The ChandIer-Evans Controversy

AS we view the situation, ex-senator
Chandler has every right to make form
al complaint against Admiral Robley
D. Evans.
The question before the navy depart
|ment, although simple and easily under
stood. is by no means trivial. as Secre-
tary Long would have us believe. Let
us state the case. Mr.. Chandler, while
secretary of the navy n in the exer-
else of his proper authority, relieved
Admiral Evans from certain duty,
greatly to the latter's displeasure. AS
long as Mr.. Chandler was secretary
and, therefore, his superior Admiral
Evans maintained a discreet silence;
but now, when Mr.. Chandler is a pri-
lvate citizen. he proceeds to wreak a de-
llayed revenge by abusing him in a book
He tells the world that Mr.. Chandler
degraded the high office OF secretary
of the navy, and he likens the action
which angered him to the sting of an
insect. Surely Secretary Long cannot for
one moment believe that such conduct
as this is not prejudicial to the good
order and discipline Of h navy. If
naval officers are to be allowed, as soon
las a secretary goes out of office, to crit
iicise and condemn with impunity, the
navy will degenerate into a society of
lscolds and wranglers. Suppose, for in
Stance, that Secretary Long should re-
sign tomorrow and on the following day
Admiral Schley should pour forth a
torrent of abuse in revenge for alleged
ill treatment. Does any one mean to
SAY that Admiral Schley would not re-
ceive an instant and merited rebuke?
lOficial condemnation would swiftly
fall upon his devoted head.
1t is urged, not in e~xtenuation of
Evans conduct. but as relieving him
from official ~cognizance. that Mr..
Chandler is not now his superior, but
is a private citizen. We canno believe
THAT this view will be accepted by Ad-
Imiral Evans. He is too much of a man
and too good an officer to be guilty of
contemplate bushwhacking. He would
not, we are sure, strike any man from
a safe shelter, for, whatever elsehe may
be, he certainly is not an assassin Of
character. He is accustomed to fair
and free fighting and it would be un-
like him to plead exemption from re-
lsponsibility because he is a naval Off
Ger and the man he has attacked is a
private citizen.
Admiral Evans has opened a VERT
able Pandora's box which will breed a
host of ills if it is not speedily closed.
1t is the duty of Secretary Long to tSse
the matter in hand with all expeditfek
and to see that the action of Admiral
Evans shall not remain a precedent to
involve the navy in future roubl
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
AN OLD .BEKCHER BrBLE..
Events OF an Exciting Epoch Recalled
by the Finding Of q Riffs

at Lecompton the other day a lad
padding around in the shallow waters
OF the Kaw found a Sharp's rife OF the
ancient pattern OF fifty years ago.
Some one has suggested that 1t Is one
OF "Beecher's Bibles" the name given
by the early settlers to this weapon;
and the suggestion recalls a curious bit
OF early day history. When the first
emigrants sent out by the New Eng
land Aid and other societies OF the north
found their settlements beset by bands
OF pro-slavery men from Missouri. they
called upon their eastern friends for
arms with which to defend themselves,
and many shipments OF Sharp's rifles
were made TO them from both Boston
and New York. But all goods shipped
to Kansas had to come III the Missouri
river and through the enemy's Our
try" and the Missourians had a fash
ion OF confiscating such weapons a:
they found. So the rifles were shipped
as something else IN packages shaped
to deceive. For example. IN 1856. Amos
Lawrence wrote from Boston to hi:
agent at Hartford. Conn:
Request Mr.. Palmer TO have ter
Sharp's rifles packed in casks i X hard
ware and to retain them subject to m,
order. Also to send the bill TO me.
will pay it either with my note at Z pei
cent. interest or In CASH"
And these rifles were shipped to Law.
renee and got safely through, as die
others packed in a way to deceive. /
was charged that Henry Ward Beechel
had sent a box of the rifles market
Bibles" and when approached by Z
New York Post reporter he admitted /
to be a fact. II believe" he said. tina
the Sharp rifle is truly a moral agency
and that there is more moral power il
one OF these instruments so far as tn,
shareholders of Kansas are concerned
than in 100 Bibles. You might just a.
we'll read the Bible to buffaloes as I,
those fellows who follow Atchison aRC
Stringfellow."
So the weapons took the name o
"Beecher's Bibles and by this the,
were commonly known.-Kansas Cit.
Journal.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
LOUIS COUNCILS CASE.
The Defense Asks for q Rehearin q
Slight Improvement In Charles
Aycock's Condition-New Railway
Route.
Messenger Bureau,


Raleigh, y. c., August s.
Application Is made for a rehearing
of the case OF Louis Council, colored.
who is under a death warrant to be
hanged next Monday. There are sever
al grounds for the application. One is
that one OF the jurors did not take the
oaths required in capital cases. The
supreme court has decided this very
point. in a case which came from Fay
e~tteville. Public opinion is more than
divided as to CourciI's guilt. Such is
the statement made by persons who
have recently Deen TO Fayetteville.
A letter today from Governor Ay-
cock, who is at Wilson at the bedside
OF his son, says the latter was a shade
better last night and the doctors are
the least bit encouraged. 1 have al
most lost hope. Charles knew his sis
ter last night n spoke to her by
name. He continues to take his food
and medicine" The governor and
Mrs. Aycock very greatly appreciate
the sympathy of h people. They re-
greet that they cannot for the present
personally acknowledge the receipt of
the numerous kilograms and letters Of
sympathy.
Harry Stubs. member of the house
for Martin county, is here. He says
the great epidemic of mosquitoes
along the coast has ended. AS to crops,
he gives good news, saying the tobacco
crop in his county is the best ever
known there.
w. z. Ashley, formerly of Raleigh,
has been made superintendent of mo-
tive power of The Carolina and North
ern railway. This road is in operation
between Lumber ton n. c., and Marion,
S. G. 1t is learned hat arrangements
are in progress for it's connection with
a road to Georgetown, S. c., and also
with what is now known as the Cape
Fear and Northern railway, in opera
ton from Apex, in Wake county, TO
Angler, in Harnett county. The Cape
Fear n Northern is owned by B. n.
Duke. n by an extension to Durham
Norfolk and Western.
State Auditor Dixon went to Bay
boro, Pamlico county, today to address
a confederate reunion.
The penitentiary report is not expect
ed to appear before September. The
clerk n the specially employed expert
have found the books and accounts
badly tangled and hard to understand
The decision by h attorney general
that all fines imposed by cities and
towns must go into the general school
fund of the county in which such cities
and towns are situated hits most OF
them a hard blow. Most, if not all,
have always applied the mes to their
own uses.
Grand Master of Masons Register to-
day granted a dispensation for a lodge
at Bellhaven, Beaufort county,
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
THE SMELLING WORKS ROBBERY
The Evidence Upon Which the sus-
pect Winters Is Held

San Francisco, August S.-Captain
Seymour, of the local detective force,
has disclosed the identity OF the man
whom the police have in custody on sus-
picion of having been implicated in the
robbery of $3.50 o worth Of gold bullion
from the Selby smelter works at Vallejo
Junction. The suspect is John Winters,
81 years old, a former employe of the
smelling company. Captain Seymour
also outlined the evidence on which
Winters is being held. as follows:
"a mans cap. which was found in
the railroad tunnel last Tuesday morn
ing has been positively identified as
worn by Winters, and to strengthen
this fact there is the further one tina
the suspect has been wearing a new
cap ever since the time Of the robbery.
He explains his loss of the old one by
saying it blew away.
THE cover of the tunnel ~excavated
by the thieves vas constructed Of laths,
upon which some old cloth was fasten-
ed with tacks of a peculiar pattern,
n tacks similar to these were found
today in Winters cabin. Portions of
lath similar to those composing the
framework of the cover nave been found
at the same place.
"a pistol owned by Winters and found
in his cabin is covered with mud which
corresponds exactly with the earth
taken from the tunnel.
"In the tunnel were found several
cubes of peculiar chalk, which had evil
IDENTIFY been used to smother the grind
ing sound made by the drill by which
the fioor plate of the vault was bored,
and pieces of chalk like them were dis
covered in Winters cabin
In the cabin also WIS found a new
implement designed to cut a pipe. A
small electric battery and a tiny cleo
trio bulb. the latter being covered with
dirt similar to that in the tunnel under
the vault, were found.
Winters had been seen late at night
in the vicinity of the railroad unnel
several times by persons who had occa-
sion TO pass that wav-"
Winters, however. stoutly maintains
that he knows nothing whatever about
the robbery.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Chinese Labor and the South

The New York u objects to The
Registers proposal to introduce Chi
nese labor into the south, saying we
would have on our hands a new and far
more troublesome race question. Ac-
cording to he Sun, the Chinaman
will be a disturbing element socially,
he has an idea Of civilization different
from ours; he is understandable. Very
true; we must admit it. Yet cannot
just the same be said of the negro?
There is this difference. n it is in
favor of the Chinaman: He is not
afraid of work. He, if introduced here,
would not only work but make the ne
gro work, or move out. That is our
main contentin.
We recognize the difficulties in the
way of carrying the idea into effect,
but his does not affect the value of
the idea itself. The fact is that en-
ployers in the agricultural regions, es-
| pecially the small farmers are very
weary of dealing with the shiftless
| race, and would welcome help from an
| other quarter. We voice their opinion
| The only hope Of Improvement is in
| putting an active laborer in competition
| with one who thinks and acts on the
| theory that the world owes him a
| living.
Some of the arguments of the Sun
are sound, being based on experience.
| There would be a great row created
were the attempt made to change or
abolish the Chinese expulsion law. The
labor unions would become, doubtless,
a flaming opposition to such a scheme.
The politician would be bold indeed
who would give his aid and encourage
ment. Yet there are two things worth
considering. We of the south need
just this kind of labor; and, second,
the exclusion of the Chinese rests
,,-o, - ro,rnI nrinninln With nna
voice we demand free entry of persons
and goods into China. n with another
voice we say to the Chinese: You are
not fit to come into our country. Your
religion is not ours. yet as a nation
we have no religon); your morals are
bad, and you are a degraded lot" We
fancy that if the nan were not
an industrious and cheap laborer we
would be concerned as little regarding
his religion and morals as We are re-
garding the religion and morals Of the
negro. If the negro were as indus
trious as he is cheap, we would very
soon find that his religion and morals
unfit him for existence in this country.
The Sun says: To bring in Chinese
labor as a competitor with the negro
would be like jumping from the frying
pan into the fire. We beg to say that
there is no proof of this in anything
that has happened in this country: and
we find abundant evidence that the
Chinese introduced into other lands
Unto the Philippines, for example) are
the leading and most satisfactory
laboring element as we'll as the best
commercial element in those lands.
We hear, too, of regular importations
of coolies into the West Indian islands,
and into Mexico, to TAX the place OF
the trustworthy native labor. The
continuance of the process seems to
L inIianfn rhof ~ &c foInrQ hlV regarded
in those countries and affords some re
lief from embarrassments that have
been experienced there.-Mobile Reg
lister.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
The Bonds Did the Business

a man can walk into a bank here ana
borrow any sun of money he wants.
says the New York correspondence OF
the Cleveland Plaindealer. That is, II
he is willing to pay the interest asked
and has the security. This latter is the
essential thing.
4 bank cashier said to me on this
point: "A fine looking old fellow came
into see me the other day. I want TO
borrow $1,000 said he, AND that you
may know a little about me, 1 will tell
you who 1 am n you see what de-
pendence you can place on me- GO
ahead I said.
In the first place. he went on, 1 am
a warden IT. an Episcopal church, L
have a good business in Harlem, l can
give you government bonds for security
-
Never mind the rest of a story,
I said. YOU can ave he money.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
For Mushroom MiIIionsires.

Our weCfern states have some queer
laws and regulations in regard TO di-
vorce, but it las remained for the Eng
lish House OF Lords 10 decide that a di-
yorced peeress Oh being married again,
il she likes retain her former hus-
bands title. Mushroom miIIionaIres
who wish to purchase titles Of nobility
for their ambitious daughters ought to
be able now to do 50 on easier terms.
The title ma have several duplicates,
but what of that 50 long as they ara
recognized by the house OF peers. II
viii be interesting to learn whether
precedence will be given TO the lady
who has worn the title longest or TO the
one who II still the wife OF the noble
lord.-Proyidence Journal.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Another Railroad Prospect

Says the Southport Standard. of Au-
gust Sth:
Mr.. H. H. Dougherty, the veteran
Southport railway protector, who has
labored strenuously in the past, is
again at work on a new prospect, con-
templative Of uniting by rail the two
towns, Southport and Wilmington, at
least.
"Quite recently Mr.. Dougherty has
been securing rights Of way from prop
erty owners along the proposed line,
which is identical with that of the lass
effort, which went into the hands of a
receiver in 1897. not, however, until
about ten miles of the roadbed had
been made, which work is to be used
in the present plan along with the
bridges n culverts, all OF which are
yet in condition.
ct is understood that Mr.. Dough-
erty has some Philadelphia capitalists
behind him In this work"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
THE TRADE AND GOLD PUZZLE
More Than $500, 900, 200 Missing
Where Has 1t Gone.

Including the reserve and all other
gold in the custody of, though not own
ed by the government. the treasury of
the United States now holds the unprec-
edented total of S504, 354,907 in gold coin
and bullion. And exclusive Of the $3.50,
900, 900 reserved as a redemption fund,
and all other amounts held in trust by
contain SPAS, 60, $50 in gold, which e
ceeds all previous records.
This. however, is not likely long to re-
main the highest record of the Ill
Gold is flowing our a and as lons
as the present extraordinary excess OF
our exports over our imports is main
tanned it must continue to do so, as in
ternational exchanges are settled IN
gold. 1t is, indeed, a puzzle, which ever
clearly explain, why more gold has not
come over to US from Europe.
AS Professor Bullock. of Williams
college. recently pointed out in the
North American Review, the balance
Of trade in our favor for the four fiscal
ear ended June 80, 1890, was S1,916,-
600, 900. Adding the balance in oul
favor reported for the fiscal year that
ended a month g we find that in the
uNe years last past our exports HdNe
exceeded our imports by the stipend
Gus total Of owe $500. 900, 900. Profes.
sOr Bullock, after making every posi-.
BILE deduction for money due to on
foreign creditors and other debts, con
fesses that there is an ap-
parent balance to Jul credit-he place:
it at $780, 0O, 900 UP to June so, 1900
which has not been settled. It does no.
appear in our stock of gold on hand
nor anywhere else. Where has it gone
Or where is the element of fiction in tn
official returns of our trade and GOLD
balance?
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Sail for Europe

New York, August S.-John Shelton
Williams. Vice President j.. William
M~iddendorf and Robert c. Davidson, a
director of the Seaboard Air Line sys-
tenn, sailed today on the Deutschland.
They will make a tour of Germany. re-
turning on the St. Louis which viii sail
from Southampton, September 18th.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Death from Dyed Stockings

Norfolk. Va, August 7.-Lieutenant
Commander c. Cresap. United States
Navy, of the inspection board at the
Norfolk navy yard. died at the naval
hospital here at an early hour this
morning of blood poisoning, which vas
icaused by the dye of a stocking alb
lsorbed in a slight abrasion on the foot.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
DIR. H~ORLBECK'S ASHES
VIII be Inferred at Magnolia Gene
terry

terry
The incinerated remains of the late
DR.. Henry B. Horlbeck were brought
back to Charleston by DR.. Charles w.
Kollock yesterday morning and will be
inferred at Magnolia cemetery this af-
rno The remains of DR.. Horlbeck
were, by provision of his will, taker to
the Trest Pond CrematOry. n. Y, liter
his death and reduced to ashes. This
was done according to the wishes of the
deceased and the ashes will be placed
in Magnolia.
The funeral services over the ashes
of DR.. Horlbeck will be held at Mag
nolia cemetery this afternoon at 6
o'clock. Besides the many friends of
the late health officer the city council.
board of health and the veterans OF
Camp Sumpter, United Confederate
Veterans will be present.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
Peter jackson Dead

Victoria, B. c., August S.-Peter
Jackson, the famous egr pugilist,
died July 23rd. at a private sanitarium
lat Roma, lea sydney, \. 5. w, OF
consumption.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13

Lord Kitchener reports the surrender
at Warm Baths of Commandant Devil
liers. who was second in command to
Boyer.
The Holly chieftain., 1901-04-26

.
come famous despite their patrony-
mics.
Kun Arpad is juvenile virtuoso par
excellence. His repertoire embraces
some Of the most classical pieces of re-
nowned composers. and he plays with
wonderful feeling. The musical critic
Of the Figaro says that during some Of
the pathetic selections there was not
. dry eye in the audience. The little
fellow seems transformed into celes-
tial being while playing. and when
away from the stage and romping with
his little companions he is as mum
danely mischievous as any urchins Of
his age. He will make tour Of Eu-
rope and America with that excellent
Viennese musician. Rodolphe Berger,
who will accompany him on the plano.
Kun Arpad's forte at the Figaro 1--we
o'clock" was a Romance" BY Mem
delsshon. and "Le Movement Per-
petuille' of Paginini. which the little
violinist executes with wonderful alac-
rtty. not losing note and beating time
with his feet. I predict from what I
have read in the Paris papers that
Chicago will 90 wild over the dimrhU-
tive chap during his season here.
The Holly chieftain., 1901-04-26
Anofhsr 8elSamy celonY,

Undaunted by the experience Of so
many Bellamy colonies which have
hourished for brief season and then
collapsed, another one viii be launched
shortly among the hills Of New Hamp-
shire. The promoters are sanguine
this one will succeed. a. they will in
troduce some improvements ON the or
iginal Bellamy system. No ministers,
for instance, will be allowed within the
limits OF the colony. members desiring
the benedt Of clergy" having to 60
outside for 1t. Lawyers also will be
barred out, the promoters having NO
faith in their honesty as class. Every
ono In the colony will bs forced to
work for . uniform rate Rt wages and
those who are lazy or prove themselves
morally unft VIII be expelled.