davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

and relates how she is pure as a lily'
and all the rest Of the things that lovers
say about their best girls" at least, all
the things they say In song. And the
music seems to suit the sentiment ex-
actly.
But, alas! for the heart sentiment! The
bulk Of that song appeared nearly twenty
years ago in the presidential campaign
when Cleveland and Thurman were the
democratic candidates, and the words
were; Let democrats boast of their old
red bandanna-" for this was a republican
campaign song. Somehow there does not
seem to be much similarity between a Do
litical campaign and fond lover and it
would appear that music has no intrinsic
sentiment any more than II has religion.
Possibly the worst transmutation that
was ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting
public was when part of Chopin's solemn
FUNERAL march was bodily appropriated and
turned into negro minstrel song for use
in the old San Francisco minstrel hall
where the BiJou theater afterwards stood.
Nightly the sad strains of the dirge were
yapped to the words. "Sumbuddy's comm
wen de dew drops fall' by a blacked-tln
white man who should have known better
But 1t is when one gets into the realm
OF comic opera, or rather musical comedy.
that one realizes that music in itself has
no inherent Interchangeable character but
that the same tune may be used a dozen
times in connection with a dozen different
sentiments-New York Times
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

bors believed that Mary Friend had met
her just deserts there was one who was
convinced that a crime had been COM
mitted. Having no faith in witches he
filed a complaint before Justice of tbs
Peace Tridwell charging Spiva with murder
Abel was arrested and upon being ar
raigned in court pleaded guilty.
Squire Tridwell was himself believer
in witches. but he admonished the prisoner
that his confession made him liable to a
death sentence. Abel insisted on his guilt
however, and the justice reluctantly SEN
fenced him to be executed forthwith, 1.-THE
same as he shot the woman"-so reads the
old court record-by being stood against
tree and shot by the constable. Because
of Spiva's plea no evidence was produced
to show that Mrs. Friend had not died as
the result of a bullet wound.
From the court room to the woods at the
edge of the village went TO constable with
his prisoner. followed by crowd Against
tree they placed Abel Spiva, and the
constable, raising his long barreled SOUR
rel rifle" to his shoulder. was about to fire
when there came a shout from the road. II
was the warning cry Of Samuel Wilson,
then young lawyer. and later Colonel
Wilson of the sixteenth Illinois infantry,
county. He demanded to know what the
proceedings meant. and when they were
explained to him he ordered the shooting
stopped.
It's against the law" he told Justice
Tridwell. You have no right to send this
man to his death. You can only bind him
over to the court"
1T is the law. and It is here" the squire
retorted. taking from his carpetbag the
Illinois statutes and pointing to that sec
ton which imposed the death penalty for
murder.
Wilson tried a new tack
If you must shoot this man." he argued,
surely you will give him sufficient time
to prepare to meet his God"
This appealed 10 the stubborn Judge, and
he consented to give the prisoner a week
In which to settle his worldly affairs and
prepare to die. Spiva was thereupon turned
over 10 Sheriff Francis d. Lips. but he re-
fused TO act and Spfva was released. never
TO be tried on that charge again.
Some months later. however. he felt HIM
self again under a spell" and his brother
William told him that his wife was the
guilty witch. William advised Abel to
wait until Mrs Spiva was asleep and then.
with knife. draw a single drop Of BLOOD
from her forehead without letting her
know IT," This treatment. William said,
would break the SPELL"
According TO instructions Abel sharpened
his long hunting knife and that night
pricked his wife's forehead. Startled from
a sound sleep, she suddenly sat up in bed
and the knife cut deep cash down her
cheek.
Abel Spiva was arrested and indicted for
assault with intent to kill. but for some
reason the case was nolle pressed and he
never was brought to trial. But to her
dying day his wife carried the scar as a
CHASTITY emblem Of Abel Spiva's belief In
witchcraft
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

crew found the pile of ties but no train
wreckers.
Wilson's presence of mind got him a
new job, $40 a month more. I believe. He's
chief dispatcher now."-Chicago Tribune.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

that he was bewitched. Every night,
said Abel. a witch took him from his
bed, transformed him into q horse and
rode him wildly about the country to
attend the meetings OF the devil and his
host of i5nps AS a result Abel was so
tired in the morning that he found it
hard to do the work on his farm. VIII
liam didn't suggest that Abels complaint
was probably sheer laziness, for they
were agreed that the only way to break
the spell was to find the witch and
kill her SO they began to cast about for
a likely woman whom they could accuse
IL SO happened that at that time Mary
Friend wife of Charles Friend, a farmer
living near the Spivas, was dangerously
Ill with n fever which had baffled the
local doctor Not believing in witches the
Friends had refused to call In William
Spiva. 80 when Abel opined that Mary
Friend was probably the witch that
found so much enjoyment in changing
him into q horse, he had a ready and
willing listener in William. The two
brothers decided, after scant reflection
that Mrs. Friend was the witch and that
her illness was only slammed In order
to give her an opportunity to lie in bed
and rest after her nightly rides to the
devils camps.
At first William spiva was puzzled as
to how to rid his brother Of the witch's
spell, but after consulting his "witch's
book" he hit upon a novel plan. Abel
must go into the woods, carve the out
lines OF a woman's figure in the bark of
tree. give II the name of 'edary
Friend, the WITCH" mold silver bullet
and at sunrise the following morning
shoot the image Thus, reasoned William
Spiva, would the spell be broken, for II
would mean nothing else than Mary
Friends death.
Abel spiva did as his brother directed
and returned to his work with a feeling
OF renewed visor, Shortly before noon
he was chopping wood when q passing
neiBhbor called out:
Heard the news, Abelf Mary Friend
IL dead"
"oh. I knew that" emsrked Abel in
differently. IT killed her. She was a
witch and shot her with a silver bull
let" And he told the story of his be-
witohment, and how, as he thought, he
had killed Mary Friend
The news OF Abel Spiva's confession
spread quickly, and from all sections of
the countryside farmers came TO ask him
about II. His story sounded incredlr9uus
but he tald II with 80 much seriousness
that 1t proved convincing, especially as
she had died on the very morning Abel
nred at her carved image on. the tree.
While The majority Of Abel spiva's neigh
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
WTTCHCRAFT STILL A BOGEY
Practice Extinct Even in Salem, but
Superstition Still Lives.
MANY WOMEN WHO HARBoR II
Interesting Tale Related WhiSH
shows that This FnnOifuI Fear
stilI Fingers I'm the BOsOms
of a Few.

Burning old women at the stake as
witches is a pleasantly no longer INDUCED
in even in Salem, but belief in withoraft
Is not altogether dead. Only q few months
ago a woman In Jersey City had q neigh
Dor hailed to court on the charge OF pre-
tending to possess the powers Of evil and
threatening to use them unless paid to
dssist. AS the complainant had suffered a
streak OF bad luck, In spite of paying to
ward It off, her belief in her friend. whom
she called witch, was cruelty shattered.
says the Public Ledger OF Philadelphia.
More recently a woman living near But
Ter, Penn was accused Of being O witch.
Mrs. Laupaule ORDER was the Victim OF
this ancient superstition. She was charged
by Mrs. Julia Kroner, a farmers wife.
with having gone to the Kroner's barn and
casting a SPELL over a COW SO as to
prevent it's giving milk. Mrs Kroner openly
made the charge OF witchcraft IN court,
but the Judge refused to consider II other
than one of disorderly conduct. On this
ground Mrs. ORDER was found guilty and
fined S.
other tales equally as absurd could be
told OF the rural districts, but mono possess
the elements OF a witch story 90 much a.
that OF Abel Spiva and his brother. Will
liam, who lived until a few years ago in
McDonough county, Illinois. The events
with which It deals are a matter Of court
record at Maoomb, the county seat.
Abel Spiva's forefathers came from the
Carolinas at a time when belief in WITCH
craft was strong. and they brought their
superstition with them into what was then
the western wilderness. Thus Abel honestly
inherited his belief in witches, as did his
brother, william. who a. a witch doctor
had quite extensive a practice as q
regular country physician OF those days.
Whenever the simple folk OF the neigh
borhood felt a spell'-to which they at
tributed all their sickness and il-luok.-
they called on William spiva and he drove
out the witches; at least he convinced his
patients that he did.
One day Abel spiva told his brother
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS HYMNS
Some of the FavOrites Handed Down
from Comic Opera and the
Bold, bad Waits.

When the religious devotee, imbued with
spiritual enthusiasm, goes deeply into her
pocketbook while the collection basket is
being passed, she often hears the voice OF
the soprano singing Guide Me, o. Thou
Great Jehovah" as an offertory solo. The
Ichurch woman doubtless thinks It a re-
ligious hymn, and would describe il as a
piece of purely religious music, little
dreaming OF its origin.
For the melody is about as far removed
as 1t possibly could be from anything re-
ligious, being taken bodily from a comic
opera that is not sung so frequently now
adays as 1t used to be in the placid old
Mapleson days when Ravelli was New
York's favorite lyric tenor, and used to
sing that air at the once famous Academy
of Music when Martha" was performed,
for that song belongs by rights in Flo
lows comic opera
Many and many a church congregation
has droned out an air to the words, "Oh,
Mother Dear Jerusalem" with profound
belief in the religious character OF the
melody and without much thought at the
time OF the gay and festive dance.
But the melody that they think so in
spired is really a bold, bad waltz, and
one Won Weber was the musician who
wrote IL for dance music. and very good
dance music it is, too. The air was quite
as popular for that purpose at one time
as the Merry Widow" waltz was two
years ago, and the latter may yet follow
its predecessor from out the bright lights
Of the ballroom into the dim aisles of the
church.
The music of sentimental love songs Is
not always the creation OF a yearning
heart Take a charming little Irish love
ballad entitled. The Lass o. the County
Mayo" which appeared some seven to
eight years ago
In it the fond lover describes his lady
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
ONE KILLED AND SIX HURT
WHEN AUTOMOBILE UPSETS

BLUEFIELDS, Va, Aug. 12-while
rounding a sharp curve on the outskirts OF
the city last night, an automobile in which
were seven passengers struck a rock and
turned over.
James L. Booth OF the Bluefields police
force was pinned under the car and died
within ten minutes.
p. DOYLE OF the police suffered serious in
ternal injuries and may die
Fred Stafford, a third policeman, was
cut about the head and arms.
Ray Evans chest was crushed in and
several ribs broken. His condition is seri-
Gus.
George o'Leary was cut about the head.
Lee Anderson and Everett Hawley, well
known young men. were cut and bruised.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
NEGRO HANGED FOR INSULT
TO WHITE GIRL OVER PHONE

FARMERSvILLE. KY Aug. 2.-Com-
modore Jones, a negro, who, II is alleged
used insulting language in addressing a
young white woman over the telephone,
was hanged by a mob last night. Jones was
arrested yesterday. Last night crowd of
about seventy-five men and boys gained
access to his cell and marched him TO the
outskirts OF the town, compelled him to
climb telephone pole. At the top one OF
the mob was waiting. A rope was thrown
about the negro's neck and he was forced
TO jump.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

|
| Sometimes common sense and bravery
are combined. 1 once knew a station
agent and telegrapher at a little town in
Missouri. a number of years ago, whe
prevented fatalities and thwarted a gang
of train robbers by his presence Of mind
and daring.
| His name was Wilson. He had been
agent at the town several months and
was working nights. 1t was a little after
midnight, one morning in October when
Wilson, sitting at his instrument glanced
around at a masked man pointing a re-
volver at his head.
Wilson took it rather calmly. What
| the h. he said. o. nothing. said the
robber, only you'd better disconnect all
those instruments. l know the code and I
know how to deaden every wire on the
line So don't try anything funny Just
pull out all those plugs
Wilson obeyed. He suspected as after
ward proved true, that the robber was
not alone, and believed resistance would
be useless. After he had finished the job
of putting the wires out OF business at
his station, he was bound by the robber
and a companion who came into the sta
ton just as the work of wrecking the
telegraph for the night was completed.
Then they stuffed a wad of engine waste
| into his mouth.
He heard them discussing their plans
outside the station and learned they had
piled ties on the track a mile down the
right-of-way and that they intended 10
rob and wreck the express train, which
was due in a few minutes.
Polling the Wreekers.
Wilson struggled 70 loosen his hands
when he heard the robbers walking away
toward the scene Of the expected wreck.
He succeeded in freeing himself just as
he heard the whistle of the limited COM
ing down the grade. He ran 70 the door,
saw It would be too late to flag the train,
as he could not reach a semaphore in
time.
FORTUNATELY the engineer had slack
ened his speed down 70 twenty-five miles
an hour or 30. as he always did when
going through the town where Wilson
worked. This made II easier for the agent
He ran to the edge OF the platform, and
Just as the observation car passed, made
a lunge for the brass railing-and held on
He afterward told me that It nearly
tore him TO pieces but he stuck, gained
breath and pushed open the door. He
didn't wait TO call the conductor, but
.
signal for the engineer 20 stop
''rhe express slackened its speed and
finally came 20 q complete stAndstill. The
conductor came running back through the
cars to learn who had dared TO pull the
bell cord. Just inside the door OF the OBJ
servation coach he found Wilson, with
the porter and q passenger lf1nE him TO
seat
Then the dispatcher explains The
conductor told the engineer. and, be-
tween them, they arranged a plan. The
train would back into the station and
Wilson would connect the wires and In
form the superintendent. who would send
a train from the other direction 20 trap
the robbers.
THE plan worked-just so far. The
other train was sent, but the robbers
must have been wise that something
was NEonE. They skipped. The relief
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
WOMHWS Ills

Many women suffer needessly from GirIhoOd to woman.
hood and from motherhood old a1e-with backache
dizziness OF headache She becomes brOkendoun seep.
less nervous irritable and feels tired from mornnG 70
night. When pains and aches rack the omaaIv .va. :,
frequent intervals, asa yOsg ssicL6or sbouf
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
DR.. Pierce'S FaVOrite Prescription

This Prescription has, for over 90 years. been
eur1na deHeafes weak, pain. Wracked women.
by the hundreds Of thousands and GhEs foe %
the privacy Of their homes without their ray.
Ing G" suDmh 20 indeLIesfe qHesGiOnInds and
Offe1sfReIy rePaananf examInafIona.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

TO consult in
Worlds Dpensary Medical "
Dn PERcs GREAT Fanny DocroR
Medical Adviser, oe"se
Pas English hosts of delicate
ought
stamps to cover of wrapping and mailing French cloth hd;@
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13

delay must be accounted for to the super
intendent.
The dispatcher was the first to report
1t and to explain his mistake In ordering
the cars to meet at different sidings. But
they didn't fire him. He had shown pres
ence Of mind. mere wasn't one man in a
hundred who would have thought of shut
ting off the current Most of them would
have ordered the wreck train, notified
physicians and have permitted the cars to
go to smash.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
SUNSHINE and SHOPPING
BLEND IN AMERICUS
Buyers Busy While Weather
Is the Best

Americas merchants welcomed yes
terday an avalanche of shoppers. the
busy, buying kind who knew what
they wanted and anne for it. Floods
of sunshine and crisp autumn breezes
combined to make the day an ideal
one for out-of-doors, and even the
slave to domestic duty put down her
work and shopped.
Thirty-Iour shopping days are all
that remain and there are still 50
many things to be bought. Even the
busiest bundle of adorable femininity
must speed a little now.
Stocks in Americas many handsome
stores are yet unbroken, and there
one may readily fine gorgeous dis
PLAYS of seasonic novelties calculated
to tempt the cupidity of Kris Kringle
more than a little bit And those who
trace their ancestry to solomon will
display a bit of lbs wisdom by getting
their gifts now.
DO not be merely "a locker on in
Vienna" come-backer at another
dav. Buy now while there is ample
time for inspection and when you may
get the best of Xmas offerings.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
Low RATES VIA
SEABOARD AIR LINE
Grand Prize Automobile Race Nov.
80, 1911.

Vanderbilt Cup race Savannah chal-
lenge Trophy race Tiedeman Trophy
race November 81, 1911.
Tickets on sale for all trains Nov.
26, 27, %, and 18th and for trains
scheduled to arrive Savannah be-
fore noon, Nov. 80, 1911.
Good returning to reach original
starting point by midnight Dec.
1911.
Other attractions during the week
will be the Grand Parade Dramatic
Order Knights of Khorassan Tuesday
evening Nov. 28th and the Georgia.
Auburn Football Game, Nov, goth.
The Savannah Poultry Show will be
on the whole week.
Special train service, for full in
formation call on nearest agent, OF
write, r. H. Stansell, A G p A, Say
annah, Ga. 11-15-tf
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
NOTICE. I'm VESTMENT

4 lots on Jackson Ave, with East
frontage and soon to have sewerage,
for $3.50, 1925, 1925, and $500. Inquire
the price of other Fairview lots.
Will find the ones on the opposite
side of the street with West 'front.'
age can't be bought for less than
$500. each.
l lot with sewerage on Jackson Ave.
near College street for $500.
1 lot corner Hancock and Bell SITS.
East frontage for $3.50.
beautiful Lee street lot rs feetx210
feet East frontage, quick sale can sell
for $4,000.
One room house with sewerage
and gas, located in good community,
for $4,000. Will rent for $3.50 per
onth.
so acres, 8 1-2 miles from Cobb,
Ca, good dwelling, tenant houses
barns, etc. Land productive. Inves-
tigate this bargain price $40, per aero.
S65 acres, l IL miles from R. R.
station; $50 acres cleared, balance in
woods; land productive and lies al
most level; good dwelling, IL houses,
barn, deep we'll with gasoline engine
and tank. Cheap at SIS per acre.
TERMS.
250-acres, on fine road miles
from Americus; 100 acres in cultiva-
on, balance III woods and pasture;
land lies well; soil, gray with clay
ubsoil; room dwelling, tenant
houses and 8 barns. Price $50. per
acre. Terms.
An improved farm of 100 acres, 8
miles from good town of 1900 people;
100 acres open balance in oak, hickory
and pine; land productive and lies
we'll; good dwelling situated in beau
tiful grove, 2 good houses, barns, :
chicken houses, several tracts wired
in for stock and poultry; 400 fruit
trees and acres in asparagus; run
ming water. This is an ideal farm for
trucking, poultry and stock raising,
See me for price and terms.
A. c. CROCKETT
REAL ESTATE AGENT, Americas, Ga.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22

The things that make life worth
living are generally the things other
people have.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
Farm Lands for Sale.

Will sell at public cutlery before
the courthouse door in Americas on
the first Tuesday in December, 1911
one hundred acres excellent land in
the southern edge of Sumter county
Nearly all open and in cultivation;
some in original woods. The splendid
Smithville-Americus highway runs
through the land, north and south.
One of the best small farms in sum
county. For particulars address Mrs.
R. P. Johnson, Smithyille, Ga.
I'D ct WIT
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
Reward Notice.

One Hundred Dollars Reward for the
arrest and conviction of the party or
parties, who stole two Jersey yearl-
ings out of my pasture. But l will pay
ten dollars for their return to my
pasture and no questions asked, if re-
turn is made before arrest is made
Suppose you return them and avoid
arrest H. T. DAVENPORT.
.,. Sim d & W.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22

AT last l have discovered why we
didn't sell more of those bathing
suits" remarked the head of the de-
partment. why is it?" asked the
proprietor. Il overheard one of the
salesladies emphasizing the fact that
they wouldn't shrink" was the reply.
Procrastination is a word
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
SUFFERED TWENTY-ONE YEARS
FINALLY FOUND RELIEF

Having suffered for twenty-one
years with pain in my side. l finally
have found relief in DR.. KiImer's
Swamp-Root. The physicians called It
Mothers Pain" and injections of
morphine We're my only relief for short
periods of time. l beanie so sick that
had to undergo a surgical operation
in New Orleans, which benefited me
for two years. When the same pain
came back one day | was so sick that
gave up hopes of living. A friend
advised me to try your Swamp-Root
and | at once commenced using it.
The first bottle did me so much good
that l purchased two more bottles.
am now on my second bottle and am
feeling like new woman. | passed a
gravel stone as large as big red bean
and several small ones. | have not
had the least feeling of pains since
taking your Swamp-Root and l feel it
my duty to recommend this great med
icine to all suffering humanity Crate
fully yours,
MRS JOSEPH CONSTANCE,
Avoyelles Par. Marksville La.
Personally appeared before me, this
18th day of July, 1911, Mrs, Joseph
Constance, who subscribed the above
statement and make oath that the
same is true in substance and in fact.
VIM. MORROW, Notary Public.
Letter to DIR. Kilmer & Co., Bing-
hampton, n. Y.
Prove What Swamp Root Will Do For
You.
Send to DR.. Kilmer & Co., Bingham
ton, N. Y, for a sample bottle. 1t will
convince anyone. You will also receive
booklet of valuable information tell
ing all about the kidneys and bladder.
When writing, be sure and mention the
Times Recorder. Regular fifty cent
and one-dollar size bottles for sale at
all drug stores.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22

Blobs-"I called him a double dis
titled liar and several kinds of horse
thief" What did he say?"
Blobbs-'T didn't wait to hear. l just
hung up the receiver"
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
SECRET SOCIETIES.

Americas chapter, No. 60, o. E. S.
Meets every I'd and 4th Monday night
Visitors invited.
MRS. THOS. CARUTHERS,
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-11-22
NOTICE.

The Southern Express Co., will sell
for charges at public. Cutlery, to the
highest bidder for cash in the City OF
Ga. Saturday Nov. 25th
1911, all unclaimed packages remain
ng on hand.
H. NJ. SMITH, Supt.,
H. c. GARNER, Agent.
Nov.1-S-15-22.