davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
BAPTlSTS CALL DR.. PURSER
Dawson Church May Secure Eminent
Atlanta Divine as Pastor. Ac-
ton Was Unanimous.

At a conference after the morning
service Sunday the First Baptist
church unanimously extended a call
to DR.. Jno. F. Purser to serve the
church as pastor next year at sal
airy of $500.
DR.. Purser is at present pastor
of the West End Baptist church in
Atlanta, and is one of the most prom
inent ministers of his denomination
in the state He has fine pulpit abil-
ity, a pleasing personality and is
thoroughly consecrated to his work,
and the Dawson Baptists will be
fortunate if he consents to become
their pastor.
DR.. Purser assisted in protracted
meeting in Dawson two years ago
last summer, and is known and ad-
mired by many of our people.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
THE PRUNING KNIFE DID
NOT CUT SALARIES DEEP
Council Elects Officials for 1907 S. D. Hatcher Chief o.
Police w. E. Lunday Street Superintendent and
VIII. Gurr CITY Attorney.

Immediately after taking the oath
of Office Friday night the new may
or and council began the transaction
of business. Their first work was
the fixing of the salary list and the
election of officers for 1906.
The axe was not applied to official
heads nor the pruning knife to sal
aries as freely as some expected,
though there was something doing
along these lines.
Mayor Nasworthy appointed AL
dermen Hollingsworth, Whitchard
and McLain committee to retire
and fix salaries for the year, and
they reported as follows City clerk,
$3.50 year; city attorney, $50 a
wear: city treasurer 5000 year;
chief of police $50 a month and two
uniforms during the year; policemen,
$50 per month and two uniforms;
chief of fire department $40 a month
and two uniforms; two firemen, $45
per month each and two uniforms;
street overseer $50 per month and
two uniforms.
A reduction of $50 was made in
the salary of the city clerk because
after January 1 he will be relieved
of the work of collecting the cleo
trio light bills. The salary of the
chief of police was reduced $40 per
month, and of the policemen S. per
month. No change was made in
the salary Of the chief of the fire
deDartment, but two of the firemen
we're given an increase of So per
month each. The salaries of the
city attorney and the street overseer
escaped the pruning knife.
Election of Officers.
The election of officers was then
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
STABLES BURNED IN sHELLMAN.
Brave Act of Messrs. Sale and New
kirk Saved the Horses.

Brave Act of Messrs. Sale and New
kirk Saved the Horses.
The Cuthbert Acknowledgements
prints the following account of the
burning of Mr.. w. J. divers stables
IN Shellman
One of the largest fires that She'll
man has witnessed for quite awhile
was the burning of the stables of Mr.
W. j. Oliver Sunday night at seven
o'clock. The blaze when first dis
covered was burning from both ends
of the roof The volunteer fire COM
pany rushed to the scene, but before
assistance could be had the building
was well wrapped in flames. One OF
the bravest incidents of the fire was
the tearing down of the doors (Which
We're locked by Messrs. j. S. Sale
and j. c. Newkirk. They were the
nrst to reach the scene, and, run
nlng against the doors, managed 10
break in and drive the stock out OF
Ihe burning building. Had they not
reached the stables when they ala
the stock would probably have been
cremated. The cause of the tlre IS
unknown
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
WIVES ON CHRISTMAS TREES.
Strange Christmas Customs That
Prevail in Parts of Russia.

Strange Christmas Customs That
Prevail in Parts of Russia.
OF all Christmas tree customs one
of the strangest prevails in parts of
Russia. gift tree is set up in the
village, on the branches of which
roost young unmarried women,
cloaked and hooded and yelled so
that their identity is concealed. The
SWANS are admitted one by one, just
as they are in our familiar Ameri-
can game of "spat in, spat out. {"
Each as he enters lifts a veil-of
course at random-and the face thus
disclosed belongs to his future wife,
The act of lifting the veil betroths
the couple, the penalty for breaking
the engagement being a heavy fine
to be paid into the village treasury.
Another Russian custom is pro-
cession of children dressed in fan
tastic animal costumes. One boy
holds aloft a star-shaped paper liant
ern to represent the star OF Cne
east" another carries on his back
miniature theater, on the stage of
which puppet performances like
Punch and Judy" shows are given
at every farmhouse where the mot
ley pageant halts.
The modern Christmas tree comes
to us from Germany, the Yule log
from Scandinavia, Santa Claus from
Holland and the Christmas stocking
from France, but the Christmas tur-
kev-ah, that is Americas contribu-
ton to the worlds stock of Christ
mas cheer! But there is one part
of the world where the people are
afraid to eat turkey. In Armenia it
would be too much like treason to
their cruel ruler, the Turk. II they
do venture to eat the fowl they call
it Egyptian hen" Thus both Ar
menians and Egyptians save them
selves from Moslem vengeance.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19

gone into. Clerk R. E. Bell and Po-
licemen w. W. Kelley and w. E..
HERS being reelected without oppo-
sition.
The first contest of the ballots
came over chief of police, and re-
suited in the election of Mr.. S. D..
Hatcher, he receiving four votes and
Mr.. C. G. Lewis three.
Street Overseer G. S. Coley was
defeated for reelection by Mr.. w.
E. Lundy, this vote being also four
to three. Four was also the win
ming number in the next bout of
the ballots, w. H. Gurr receiving
that number for city attorney to
three for H. A. Wilkinson.
J. M. Norton was elected SUI
pernumerary policeman, and will be
on duty on special occasions and at
the Central depot on Saturdays.
Chief of Police Hatcher relieved
former Chief Miles Hill, who will
become sheriff on January l, the
next morning after the election, and
is now gracefully swinging the
billy" He is well fitted for the
place, and will make fine officer.
Other Matters.
The elections being disposed of,
the council gave their attention to
other matters Aldermen Shields,
Hill and Hollingsworth were APP
pointed committee by the mayor
to arrange the special license tax
ordinance for 1906, and report at
the January meeting of the council.
Aldermen Baldwin, Hollingsworth
and McLain were appointed COM
mittee on sewerage, and authorized
to look after this important work
of the city.
A motion was adopted requiring
all bonded officers to give bond in
q reliable bonding company, the city
to pay for the premiums.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
NEW COUNCIL COMMITTEES,
mayor Nasworthy Names Them for
the Present Year.

Mayor Nasworthy, upon assuming
the duties of Office Friday night an
nounced the standing committees Of
the council for the present wear
The important and responsible places
OF chairmen of the finance and street
committees fell to Aldermen McLain
and Shields. The committees. as an
nounced by the mayor, are:
Finance: McLain, Baldwin and
Hollingsworth. Streets and ceme-
terry; Shields, Hill and McLain
Fire: Hollingsworth, Whitchard and
Shields. Printing; Whitchard, Hill
and Baldwin. Building: Hill.
Shields and Hollingsworth. HEALTH:
Baldwin, McLain and Whitchard.
Alderman McLain was appointed
mayor por tenn. for the first quarter
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
BRONWOOD HAS BIG BLAZE
Stock of Goods of j. T. Collins & Co.
Is Consumed by Fire. Loss Is
Several Thousand Dollars.

Between seven and eight o'clock
Wednesday night the big stock of
merchandise belonging to J T. Col
Inns & Co. of Bronwood, together
with the building occupied by them,
was totally destroyed by fire.
When first discovered the fire was
burning in the loft of the store
house, and it evidently originated
there, though how is not known.
The fire department responded
promptly and worked heroically, and
their efforts saved the adjoining
building, in which Mr.. H. A. Petty
had about $3.50 worth of goods This
building caught on fire several times
The loss of Messrs. Collins & Co.
is between $4,000 and $4,000, and
they had insurance to the amount
of $4,000. The building they occu-
pied was owned by Mr.. John l.. Hill,
and was valued at $3.50. Mr.. Hills
loss is complete, as he had no in
surance.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
VFW COUNCIL GOES IN
ADMINISTRATION OF DAW-
-ov CHANGED FRIDAY NIGHT.
MAJORITY OLD BOARD RETIRE
,,,ror Nasworthy and Aldermen Me-
Lain. Shields and Hollingsworth
Take the Oath of Office.
The Retiring Members.

The city government of Dawson
ohorqpd Friday night, when the
nor MAYOR and aldermen-elect took
tho oath of Office and the reins
Of the municipal government for the
next two years.
majority of the board are new
members. Mayor Frank Nasworthy
and Aldermen ]. G. Hollingsworth,
A. Shields and w. A. McLain sue
cpeding Mayor J. r. Mercer and AL
dermen J. G. Dean, F. M. Jennings
and H. A. Petty. The three hold
over members of the council are AL
dermen A. j. Baldwin, 7. o. Witch
ard and A. J. HILL
Mayor Nasworthy was at one time
member of the council for several
years, and is familiar with the affairs
of the city. He and the new alder
men, Messrs. McLain, Hollingsworth
and Shields, are among Dawson's
most prominent citizens and best
business men, and their efforts will
be to give the city a conservative
and at the same time a progressive
administration.
Mayor j. r. Mercer retires after
a service of four years. During this
time the city has taken a number of
forward steps His administrator
has seen the settlement of the long
standing and expensive litigation be-
tween the city and the Dawson Wa
terworks Co., resulting in the city
owning and operating it's own water
system. A handsome new city hall
and new buildings both for the white
and negro schools have been erected,
and a contract has been let for
complete system of sanitary sewers
and the work begun.
Alderman ]. G. Dean retires after
a continuous service of thirteen
years, and Alderman F. NJ. Jennings
quits the city's service after an en-
cumbency of ten years. Both of
these gentlemen have been pro-
gressive ana loyal to Dawson's best
interests, and during their official
career have done much to promote
the public's welfare.
Alderman Petty retires after a
service of only a year He was ac-
tive and energetic in guarding the
public interests, and was a valuable
and popular member of the board.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
MUST NOT BLOCKADE STREETS.
New Chief of Police Gives Notice to
the Public.

Every Saturday the streets and
sidewalks of the city are blocked by
vehicles and people standing about
in groops, necessarily causing great
inconvenience to those who have
business to attend to.
Chief of Police Hatcher requests
The News to state that he intends
to improve the condition in this re-
spect, and will enforce the ordinance
on the subject
He does not wish to make cases
against anyone, or cause anyone to
have to pay fine, and it is his
desire that everybody take notice
and govern themselves accordingly.
If Chief Hatcher stops this null
sance he will be entitled to the
thanks of at least that portion of
the public who have something to
do and are compelled, to use the
streets and sidewalks in doing it.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
WANTS TO Be SANTA
BUT THE RED TAPE GOVERN
MENT WILL NOT ALLOW HER.
WEALTHY NEW YORK WOMAN
Wanted All Letters to Santa Claus
from Children BE Given to Her
That She Might Send the
Presents Asked For.

Presents galore would be sent to
all boys and girls who mail requests
to Santa Claus this year if the post
office would only recognize a certain
wealthy woman as Santa's proxy.
This woman called on Postmaster
Wilcox of New York and, in the
name of a charitable society she rep
resented, asked that all letters adj
dressed to the patron saint of Yule-
tide be turned over to her. No mat
ter whether they called for dolls,
muffs, bicycles or toy steam engines,
she said, she would see that all wish
es were gratified IL her name were
mentioned, said Edward NJ Morgan.
assistant postmaster, the public
would recognize that she is abund-
antly able to carry out her idea.
Had she any power of attorney
from the person to whom these COM
munications were addressed to re-
ceive them? she was asked. She was
obliged to say she had no such pow
er Consequently, the postofiice au-
thorities had to refuse her the de-
sired privilege and the legend of the
driver of the reindeer was not made
real
ut was a generous impulse which
prompted this offer" Mr.. Morgan
said, "but there is no way in which
the postoffice department could COM
ply with the request.
There is no one who can show
that he or she is authorized. There
fore, communications have to go to
the dead letter office and be de-
stroyed If they should contain any
thing of value they would be re-
turned to the writer's, but have
never heard of anybody sending San
ia Claus anything for Christmas.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19

Congressman J. NJ. Griggs mas
come home to spend the holidays
with his family, arriving in Dawson
saturday morning from Washington
congress will reassemble on Janua-
~ ), and he will return in time 10
reach the capitol by that date.
The frequency and enormity OF
railroad disasters, resulting In ter
rlole loss of life, has impressed
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
MIR. MEACHERN LOSES BALL.
Officer Relieved of Bullet He Carried
Several Weeks.

Officer Relieved of Bullet He Carried
Several Weeks.
Bailiff McEachern of the New
Eleventh district, who was serious
ly wounded some weeks ago while
making an arrest and has since car
ried the pistol ball in his person, has
at last been relieved of the ammu-
milton.
DR.. j. H. WilIiford of Parrott was
called in Sunday by Mr.. McEachern,
and extracted the bullet, which was
.located just back of his collar bone
on the left side.
1t will be remembered that Mr..
McEachern was shot while arresting
a negro.
While falling to the ground he
pulled his own weapon and shot the
negro dead.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19

For some reason the people OF
Terrell and other counties who pat
ronize the Dawson dispensary are
buving and consuming less whiskey
than they did last year. Whether
this is due to the fright from tight
money" and the cry of the hard
times bugaboo, or to the growth Of
temperance, cannot be said, but it is
a fact that the sales of the dispen-
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
WANT TO BE WEIGHER.

Two Are After One of the Juciest
of City Plums.
Perhaps the juciest plum in the
gift of the council is that of city
weigher, and for this position there
are now two candidates.
Mr.. Henry o. Thornton, who has
held the Office the past two years,
is being opposed by Mr.. George R.
Cannon.
These are both popular citizens
and are strongly supported, and the
contest between them Will be
watched with interest.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
REQUIRE TRAINS TO RUN 30 MINUTES APART
WILL BE THE PURPOSE BILL JUDGE CIRCUS will
nrCr ,vtIpv CONGRESS REAssENIBLEs IN JANUARY

Judge Griggs with the necessity Oh
national legislation regulating in a
measure, the running of passenger
trains. and it is his purpose 10 miro
duce in congress early in the new
year a bill to prohibit trains on the
same tracks going in the same VI
rection nearer than thirty minutes,
which would mean twenty miles
apart.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
MARRIED AT THE PARSONAGE.
Miss Melton and MIR. Bynum United
in Marriage Sunday Afternoon.

III 1TIttI TItlssV 0UIIUdy AIJGTIIOOn.
At the Methodist parsonage Sun
day afternoon Miss Pearl Melton and
Mr.. Virgil Bynum were united in
marriage by Rev o. B. Chester.
The bride is a daughter of Mr..
H. H. Melton of Graves, and is an
attractive young woman who is ad-
mired for her many charms and
sweet disposition. The groom, who
was formerly of Terrell county, re-
sides in Alabama, and is an energetic
and highly esteemed young man.
The happy couple have the best
wishes of many friends.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
BARN BURNS AT BENEvoLENCE.
Three Head of Stock Cremated and
Entire Crop of Corn Lost.

A few nights ago at Benevolence,
over in Randolph county, Mr.. e. A.
Graham had the misfortune to lose
by fire his stockade, three head of
stock, one hog and his barn contain
der, a quantity of cotton seed and
more than ton of guano. There
being no insurance, it was a total
loss The fire, of which the origin
is not known, occurred very early in
the night
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
BIG SLUMP in DIspENsARY SALES THIS FALL
EVERY MONTH SINCE SHOWS DECREASE AS COM
PARED WITH THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR

sary have shown a big slump this
fall.
Manager Dozier informs The News
that for each of the months of Sep
TENDER, October and November of
this year the sales were from $1,000
to $3.50 behind those of the same
months in 1905, and that De-
cember, judging from the sales to
date, will show a falling off of ST.
600 as compared with December Of
last year.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
STORE BURGLARIZED.

Pistols Stolen from the Dawson
Hardware Co.
In making preparations for the
nroper celebration of Christmas some
person burglarized the Main street
store of the Dawson Hardware Co.
Sunday night, and relieved that firm
of a number of pistols.
Entrance into the building was
effected through one of the rear
windows.
The police are working on the
case, but so far as is known they
have no clue yet.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
$1,000 FOR PLAIN DRUNK.
Mayor NaswOrthy Tried His First
Case Monday Morning.

Mayor Frank Nasworthy presided
over the police court for the first
time Monday morning, and gave the
booze fighter something to think
about.
There was only one case on the
docket, and it was against Gum
Burch for being drunk. A plea OF
guilty was entered, and fine OF
$500 was imposed.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
NEW PRESIDING ELDER.

The Vienna News says that Rev.
J. B. tombstone, the new presiding
elder of the Americas district, is
packing his household effects pre-
paratory to leaving for his new home.
He and his family are expected in
Dawson this week.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
SCHOOL Will CLOSE FRIDAY.
The Spring Term Will Open OF
Wednesday, January 3.

Wednesday, January 3.
The public schools of the city, al
fer four months of hard work, Will
close for the holiday vacation on
Friday of this week, the 21st inst.
The spring term will open on
wednesday, January ?. The book fee
will be $500, as usual, for resident
pupils. The terms of tuition for non
resident pupils are stated in an adj
vertisement elsewhere in The News.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
PARROTr MERCHANT BANKRUPT
l. F. Hayes Files Petition in United
States Court.

MIR. T. F. Hayes, a welI-knoWh
merchant of Parrott, has filed pc
ution in bankruptcy in the United
States court.
His assets are stated to be $2,495
and liabilities $2,529.
official notice is given elsewhere
IN The News that a meeting OF cred
IJors will be held in Dawson on
Dec. %.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19
RENTS $3.50 FOR BONDS.

That Amount Matured on School
and Water Bonds Dec. 1.
Treasurer w. A. Baldwin has re-
mitted in New York exchange to the
holders of the school bonds and the
waterworks bonds $3.50. OF this
amount $1,000 was for the school
bond, with interest, maturing on
Dec. /. and $3.50 was for the water
bond, with interest, maturing on the
same date.
The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-02-03
Poisoning Case
At Closer

GLOSTER, Miss, Jan. 22.-Mrs.
William Clarke Stuart, wife OF a
wealthy and greatly respected plant
er of this section, was arrested to-
day, charged with poisoning her hus
band, for the purpose of collecting
life insurance policy of $4,000. She
IS in Jail, and will be held until the
testimony against her is placed be-
fore the grand jury. The circum-
stances connected with the arrest
makes one of the most remarkable
criminal stories in the history OF the
State, and if the evidence furnished
be proved the authorities will show
most daring attempt to swindle an
insurance company by committing
marder.
Mrs. Suart is Stuart's third wife.
Mr.. Stuart is just recovering from
critical illness, caused, it is alleged
by heavy doses of morphine admin
istered without his knowledge and
for the purpose of getting rid OF
him in order to collect his life in
surance.
| The principal witnesses against
Mrs. Stuart are her husband and two
physicians, called in when the plant
if was in state of Inconsistencies
The physicians declare that it wa
only after twelve hours of hard worl
that they were able to bring the al
most dead man back to life.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-16
Nevada's Golden Age.

Far off across the desert, to the
southwest. a faint column of smoke
arose. and when the gang of Greeks
who were scattering the ties and spik-
ing the rails which came over the end
of the construction train saw it they
stopped a moment in their work. talk
ing and gesticulating excitedly. For
days they had been pushing the two
strips of steel out from Utah across
the barren wastes of southern Nevada.
toward the sunset sea. They knew
that somewhere off there. to the south
of Death Valley, a gang Of Mexieans
was pushing two other strips of steel
across the Mojave desert to meet them,
and when the column of smoke was
sighted they knew it came from the
engine behind the other construction
train. For eighteen months they had
been working toward 1t, and now, with
redoubled energy, the work was
being pushed forward. And a few
days later, when Greek met Mexican. q
new transcontinental railroad was
complete.
When, on January 80, 1905, the last
spike was driven which completed the
Salt Lake route. near what became the
town of Good Springs, the shout that
went up on the desert air and the loco
motive whistles that blew called Ne
vada to awake from q long sleep
built, the track ballasted, and a wat
er-supply secured, so that regular
trains could be operated, but on every
work train men poured into the desert.
They went in box cars, coal cars, way
cars@any thing that would carry them
Armed with kits of tools and a few
provisions, they swarned over the des-
ert mountains and hills. The gold fe-
yer was raging. They were chasing
the end of the rainbow And the
"chug" Of the prospector's pick and
the echo of the dynamite blast called
Nevada to awakei
I In June, train bearing g distin-
guished party Of United States sena-
tors. representatives, governors, and
other state officials, Journalists and ir-
rigation experts, stopped at Reno, on
the Southern Pacific, in western Ne
vada A few miles out from the town,
the United States government had been
at work building a dam and digging a
great ditch. The distinguished gentle
men made few speeches to one an
other. the dam was closed, senators
and representatives laid hold of cranks
that hoisted the head gates to the
canal, and as the waters of the True
kee went dancing down the great ditch
to moisten and make fertile three hun
bred and fifty thousand acres Of Ne
vada soil the rushing flood called Ne
vada to awakei
and Nevada Is aWaAl1&- FfitiiH III
tie more than twelve month her pop
ulation has doubled. Her mountains
and hills from Reno to the Colorado
river are covered with treasure seek
ers. Town and cities have sprung uT
almost by magic. Railroads are push
ing across her wastes, and irrigation is
charging her agriculture, making rich
homes for thousands.@F'rom "The
Awak ening of Nevada" by Clarence
n. Matson. in the American Monthly
Reviews of Reviews for July