The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-03-14
JOHNSON CITY SENSATIONS
Cy Lyle Takes a Tumble Down a Flight
of Stairs.

of Stairs.
johnson City is enjoying two sem
sations," said Geo. A. Ross, Memphis
man, formerly connected
with the Journal and Tribune, who has
been visiting relatives in the "dry
town up the way for the past few days.
zone of the most thrilling events to
occur in that town since it voted out
the saloons was the fall of Cy Lyle,
editor of the Comet, which occurred
Wednesday afternoon. The accident
happened while Cy was attempting to
move his printing Office from its old
quarters to its new home on Railroad
street. Cy and three laborers were in
the act of letting the big cylinder of
the Campbell press which weighed
1000 pounds down the stairs. When
it had barely started down the long
fight leading to the sidewalk it became
manageable and ran wild to the
street. Cy was in front of the cylinder
and tried to get away from it, but quick
as he was it struck him. Like a shot
the witty editor was hurled to the
street below. A wagon was backed up
to the curb in front of the stairway
ready to be loaded with the machinery.
In his fall Cy struck the top of his head
against the bed of the wagon, knocked
it, and the team hitched to it, half way
across the street. For o moment Cy
was unable to tell just what had hap
pened, and was picked up and carried
into a store next door. Two doctors
were sent for. When the first arrived
he rushed up to Cy who had regained
consciousness and asked him il he was
hurt. Cy replied that he was not, and
asked the doctor to examine the wagon
His injury consisted of a scalp wound
about two inches long. After it wal
dressed he proceeded with the moving
Of the Comet office. That such thinG
should happen in dry town withou
more serious results is enough to chal
lenge the credence of Jack Reeves, o
the Hardeman Free Press.
"The fall of Cy Lyle added to tn
question which some one has sprung q
to johnson City, and the Adams Law
about broken up all the monoton.
which has been lowering about tn
place since the saloon folded its tent
and stole away.
johnson City went dry under spe
cial act of the legislature which had
provision forbidding the opening of sa
looms within four miles of the Soldiers
Home. The citizens voted out the ga
looms under that act, and did not sur
render the charter as provided by tn
Adams law.
"In deciding the question Of tn
rights of inmates of the Soldiers HON
to vote, the supreme court of the stat
Of Tennessee declared that the Soldier
Home was not in Tennessee or in an
I other state. Some wise guy has dis
covered that if the home is not in Ter
nessee Johnson City is not within fou
miles Of it. 1t is then argued that if
saloon was opened in johnson City
could not be within four miles of th
l Soldiers Home which the suprem
court has decided is not in Tennessee
The Adams law does not apply, as th
| charter has never been surrendered.
. move is on foot to open a saloon an
l test the law in its four mile application
. 1t is even claimed by some that sine
t its trial few years on the dry sid
Johnson City would vote wet the mel
Q time.
"Since Johnson City went dry it hi
4 become town of signs and whisper
j. This is especially noticeable when
: stranger comes to the city. Certai
members of the population who 10,
Q about the depot and hotels have the
t bootlegs SO full of bottles they wa
i lame. II man gets off the train wi
r is not known, there is a general susp
j. cion aroused until his business
r learned.
Many of the leading citizens
It Johnson City argue that the town b
10 prospered since it went dry more tbs
v it did under the saloons. Others 8,
d that the growth of the town and j
: business is due to the building of Il
is South and Western railroad and Il
o improvements at the Soldiers Home
@ Knoxville Journal and Tribune.