The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-17
NEGRO PERISHES
 IN QUICKSANDS
Was Trying to Rescue His Two
 s Horses
WOMAN IN ELEVATOR SHAF I
Member of David Harum Company in Selma Has Narrow Escape From Death-Other
 Selma News.

Selma, January (speeial.)- Informa- tion reached the city today Of the tragic death of Robert Johnson a negro, about 30 years of age, which occurred Saturday night under peculiar conditions near Cen tral Mills, this county Sunday moring he was found stiff and stark in the mud of gulley about POO yards from his home, which adioins the Ellerbeef place near Central Mills. Near him stood a faithful Texas pony and blind horse mired up to their knee joints and in the efforts to rescue the animals the negro had evidently lost his life.
 Whisky Is probably the cause of the death of the negro. When his dead body was found he had on his person a half filled flask besides about S43 in money. On Saturday he had carried a load of seed cotton to Blalocks gin at Blalock s Crossing and after the cotton was ginned he sold the cotton and part of the seed for about S51. He was carrying some of the seed back with him to his home to plant his next seasons crop. That he visited some tiger in that section is evident or supposed at least. for about d. =. he hitehed up his team and started home. When passing through particularly bad piece of road 1t is believed he pulled his team out of the road into a gully wherein sand and mud had been washed. The horses mired up to their knees and It Is thought the negro jumped out for the purpose of extricatng the animals. and himself sunk into the quicksands. In his intoxicated state he was unable to rals . himself as he fell upon his back and sank deeper and deeper into the morass until suffocated and death ensued.
 Fell Down Elevator Shaft.
 The David Harum" company. headed 1 by MT Harry Brown in the title role, had a somewhat strenuous time in Selma and the audience that witnessed the play last night were sufferers, besides Mrs Brown. who plays the part of Aunt Polly on the stage. Mrs. Brown entered as she thought the elevator yesterday afteiN ! noon, opening the door herself. The ele- vator was on the third floor at the time and Mrs. Brown on the office or ground floor. She fell through the shaft to the cellar below, a distance of about ten feet.
 As she reached the hard pavement of | the bottom of the shaft the elevator began to descend and the teeth Of the machinery caught the unfortunate wom- ans Ragland, literally tearing 1t to shreds. With unusual foresight Mrs. | Brown slipped out of the garment and | to a point of safety before the elevator 1 came down upon her. She was badly | bruised about the limbs and one of her hands was torn requiring the services | of a surgeon. She was able to take her I 1F.s-t ratrrtaf but the audience that she was suffering phy- | sical pain.
 Tract of Land Purchased. | E. F. Ulman and Albert Meyer have purchased considerable tract of land within the city limits and located in the rear of the county jail and east of Valley creek, for which they have paid $35,0O0. l The land belongs to Mrs. Sallle J. Feath- erstone. and is a part of the same estate | purchased by Col. F. M. Abbott which is now known as the Abbott addition. | Selma is growing so rapidly that the demand for desirable dwelling lots is more than can be supplied and this tract is undoubtedly the most available in this vicinity.
 Local and General. | Editor c. E. Hecker of the Linden Re- | porter of Linden was a visitor to Selma | today He stated that Linden experienced | a thing never known before in it's history on Sunday last and probably q novelty in the majority of counties of Alabama This was that on that day there were more white than coored prisoners in the coun. | ty jail The whole number of prisoners, | however. was seven. When the small number in jail was commented upon the l fact was recalled that many of the pris- oners lately in the Linden Jail have eith- CT committed suicide or attempted to cs- cape and were killed by the authorities
 in frustrating their purpose.
 1 J. J. Rush, a prominet citizen of Dublin precinct, was a visitor to the city today | in attendance upon the city court. | Tomorrow John M. Bassett of Martins | and Miss Mamie Tipton daughter of Reuben Tipton, will be married. ] Last night Miss Bessie Lee died at the home of her brother in Fairland She was highly esteem young woman and her death was learned with sorrow. l Mr. and Mrs A. F. Chester of Gates were visitors to the city today | J. E. Dunaway, a prominent citizen of Orrville, this county. was among the county visitors in the city today | Hoods Sarsaparla is peculiar to itself
 in merit and curative power. Take only | Hoods