The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-20
NEAR A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
\ Former Workman I'm the McKeithan
Canning Factory-TemDerance Mass
Meeting at Baptist Church-Other
Fayetteville News.
Especial to The Messenger

Fayetteville. January 17.-Bennett
Smith died two or three days ago at
Woodberry, Texas, IS years old, and
was an employe in McKeister's carriage
factory between 60 and 30 years ago.
Not n is left of those who worked
along with him at the bench, in the
paint shop or at the forge; non even
are left to recall what ann of man
he was. They have gone, one by one,
at fifty, and sixty and three score years
and ten; out God granted to Smith
nearly a century of life. The scene of
their labors, too, has crumbled under
the travel of time, even as they fell,
like ripe grain before his scythe. Not one
stone is left upon another of the az
tensive McKeithan carriage manufac-
tory which toe up a block on Dick and
Person streets, and before the Civil war
sold it's excellent vehicles all over
North Carolina, Virginia and other
southern states. It's east front is now
occupied by the large sales stables Of
Martin and Brother, n the other day
On the spot where Bennett Smith piled
his toll, I saw pitched the tent of an
pIloloSl dpliCI, VII was Sell
ing tin types to the children's children
of the men who may have known him
in his prime.
There was quite a large gathering at
n temperance mass meeting in the
First Baptist on Sunday afternoon. Mr..
Q. K. Ninlocks was called to the
chair as permanent presiding officer by
Mr.. A. E. Rankin, chairman of the
county anti-saloon league, and the de-
U0tiOna1 nvpToiSaS ~ oar1,yatoI ~,
Revs. w. M. Farley, D. H. futile and
C. A. Jones. Able and stirring speeches
were made by Rev. DR.. j. J.Hall, pas
tor of the First Baptist and Rev. D. II.
Tuttle, pastor Of Hay Street Metho-
dist church n Hon.. J. G. Shaw. a
prominent member of the Fayetteville
bar. About $500 was subscribed for
temperance campaign rposes and the
following executive committee was APP
pointed: J. A. Oates, j. G. Shaw, w.
H. Powell, w. D. Jones, A. E. Rankir,
Revs. DR.. j. J. Hall, D. H. Tuttle, w.
M. Farley.
Mr.. A. L. McCalkin is the delegate
from Cumberland to the New Orleans
Cotton Growers Convention of Wednes-
day of next week..
Marshal Powell, charged with selling
whiskey, who escaped from the deputy
United States marshal, while being TAX
en- to Jail, was captured yesterday by
Officer Benton.
The funeral service over the remains
Of the remains Of the late Captain r.
a. Switzerland, at 3 o'clock yesterday
afternoon were attended by the largest
~concourse Of people, especially business
men, ever seen on a like solemn occa-
sion in his city, ~attesting the univec-
sal esteem in which he was held.
Rev. Watson M. Farley, the new
pastor Of the First Presbyterian church
preached his first erno last Sunday
the able discourse of a gifted man,
which must have gratified the large
congregation.
The press of the state speaks in warm
terms of the action Of ex-Adjutant
General Royster in enlisting in the state
national guard. This praise is wei
earne and the correspondent wishes to
call attention to the still more marke1
action of Mr.. e. f. McKeithan. of this
city, who when a member of the legis-
lature, was the chairman Of the mil
tary committee. He was an officer of
the Independent Light Infantry Com
pany, with the full rank of lieutenant,
and the brevet rank of captain. He
voluntarily became an enlisted man,
carrying the musket, and although he
IS opposed to the Dick bill, there is
no more faithful guardsman in the
state