The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-28
CAPT. c. A. JOHNSTON
DIES IN CHICAGO
Prominent Citizen of Columbus
Is Suddenly Taken
LED IN CITY'S AFFAIRS
Field and Birmingham Investors
Arc Busy Trying to Develop
the Industry

Columbus, Miss, March 27,-(Special) y
Capt. Charles Atwell Johnston. one OF
the foremost business men of Columbus,
died this morning at clock In Henrotin
hospital, Chicago, from the effects of
an operation performed there 10 days
ago. His death was entirely unexpected.
His condition was pronounced materially
better yesterday and members of his
family at the bedside were preparing to
certainty. The patients heart failed this
morning and the collapse soon came. The
remains left Chicago today at noon and
will arrive here tomorrow noon, being
carried TO the residence of his son-in-
law, Walter Weaver, from whose home
the funeral will be conducted Tuesday
morning at 10 o'clock.
In all financiar enterprises Captain
Johnston was a prominent factor. In the
early seventies he was one of the organ
izers of the firm of Williams, Johnston
& Co., bankers this city. which firm
was later succeeded by the First Ma
tional bank, and still later by the First
State bank. now one of the wealthiest
financial institutions of this section. Cap
tain Johnston was president of all these
enterprises. In every movement affecting
Columbus or anything of a public nature
he was always recognized as man to
lead the people to victory.
During the civil war Captain Johnston
organized company in Columbus and
was with General Forrest for many
months. He was one of the members OF
the Mississippi delegation to the national
convention when Cleveland was nom
mated
Captain Johnston was in his seventy
first year but looked not day past 90.
He was remarkably well preserved and
as active and erect in statue as If he
were IS. He has been a widower many
years. His home was with his father,
Harrison Johnston, who is 81 years old
and himself singularly strong and per-
feet In health. Three children survive
Captain Johnston. They are Mrs Walter
Weaver, Columbus Mrs. Eugene Levert
Brown, Birmingham, and Mrs. A. s.
White, Lynchburg, Va
Interest in Oil Field
DR.. G. B. Grove of Birmingham, pres
ident of the Eureka Gas and OIL conf
pany. owner of the gas gusher at Fay
cite. Ala 40 miles east of Columbus, on
the line of the Southern railway, and
Gen. Il. l.. Rucker, j. f. SINNERS and
J. B. Lee, other Birmingham capitalists,
who are also interested in the gas oper-
atoms at Fayette, arrived In Columbus
Yesterday and presented to the citizens
a plan for natural gas being piped to
this place A pipe line, necessary acces-
sories and everything else needful TO
bring the product from the Alabama city
and ready for consumption in Columbus
will cost $500. coo. The proposition Is Tor
Columbus to take $4,000 worth of this cor
poration's bond and the other 100000 Will
be sold to foreign capitalists. The Biz
mngham visitors say application has
already been made from an eastern
broker to place the bonds on any day :
notice. The people are intensely inter-
ested in the project, for 1t means better
light, cheaper light. and will be of I'M
told advantage i'll cooking and heating.
The camp at Fayette, Ala, which Is quite
an extensive tented city. is lighted with
this gas just as it comes from the earlh.
People who have seen 1t pronounce the
light as soft and white and unusually
brilliant The camp uses the gas FOR 1uei
and cooking purposes and 1t serves III
this capacity just as we'll as in the light
ing. Two wells now being sunk are being
drilled by engines operated by the gas
and it serves as splendid motive power.
yardaman VIII Speak
Hon. James X. vardaman has accepted
the invitation to deliver the commence
ment address at Caledonia High school
Caledonia, Miss, Is miles north of Co
lumbus, ono of the most fiourishing lit
tie inland cities in this state Hon. ..
NJ Lawrence, formerly member of the
local bar. but now principal of the school,
extended the invitation. He is one OF
the ex-aovernors most ardent admirers.
The date hasn't been settled. but an ef-
fore is being made to have 1t so Governor
Vardaman will be in Columbus on April
80. date of the back to the farm meet
ing when Hon. S. A. Knapp, superin-
tepdent of demonstration work in connee-
ton with the United States department
of agriculture. will address the people at
Lewndes county courthouse. Information
received in Columbus today states Hon.
G. r. Hightower, president of the Mis-
sssippi Farmers union, will be In Co
lun,bus for this meeting, and also made
an address Over 5000 farmers are expect
ed here that day.
Prixes for Pupils
A few weeks ago a committee from the
Mississippi division, United Daughters OF
the Confederacy, advised superintendent
of many public schools in Mississippi a
gold medal would be awarded for the best
essay on 1.-The Life and Character of
Gen. Stephen ID. Lee; the paper 10 De
written by some pupil of a Mississippi
public school Each school selected their
best paper to represent them at the final
contest. which will be held In Columbus
when the daughters hold their annual
gathering in Columbus in May. The one
best paper from each school is, or soon
will be, in the hands of the organization
historian, Mrs. Rose of West Point. and
the committee will decide who compiled
the one deserving the medal The con-
test has attracted unusual interest in
many of Mississippis schools In Column
bus, General Lees home town, where
this great man was loved and honored
both for his war record and his gentle
ness of character and department with
everyone he was thrown with, the chill
dren took singular pleasure in competing
for the gold medal offered by the local
U. D. G.. which is named for the de-
parted chieftain, and William Burris, son
of + o. Burriss, prepared the success
fu paper. 1t is splendid literary COM
position and reflects credit upon the
youthful composer.
Will he Tried on Forgery Charge
Andeson, s. O., March 27.-The trial of
Calhoun Harris. former assistant treas