Decatur News, Volume 3, Number 21, Decatur, Adams County, 17 July 1901 — Page 6

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from the other trees of that kind, with their large trunks and great, wide, spreading boughs; but, however, If one were to gaze at it more attentively he would see a large, old-fashioned working kettle wedged securely in one of the many forks of the tree. It was a huge affair, one of those old plantation kettles which would easily contain all the linen from the great house and turn it forth clean and white as snow. Those were the days when it was in use, and all the little pickaninnies could see their shining white teeth reflected in it, so well Aunt Susan kept it polished; but now, alas! it had fallen into sad decay and become so caked with rust that one would never recognize the shining black kettle of former times. It was in the year 1864, Roy 8. Sensabaugh says in the Atlanta Journal, and the Southern army had been steadily driven back until they had almost concentrated their forces in Atlanta itself. Everything was in the greatest excitement through the neighborhood, but. old Col. Merritt refused entirely to leave bls plantation home; he declared that he, who had so valiantly whipped the Mexicans in ’44, was not now going to run from some rascally Yankees, and so very complacently he gave his • orders and all went on as if there was ho cause for excitement at all. It was Monday, and old Aunt Susan was superintending the week’s washing, which was done at a spring very near the house. “Gome he’ yo chile and tell old Auntie what young marse Frank done say ’bout her!” • Thereupon a little darky named Sam brought her the beatling stick and said: "Marse Frank done sed, he say he mine to kiss yo’ old black face ’fore he gine back.” “I sho’ goud love dat chile.” Just at this moment three Confederate soldiers burst through the small clump of trees that separated them from the house, and ran hurriedly to itef.here they were standing. '“‘’There Is no use,’ said one of them, the young captain to whom Aunt Susan had Just alluded so affectionately. “We are entirely surrounded.” “Better sell our lives as dearly as possible, for they will surely hang us for spies,” said one of the soldiers. ,“What dat? Who gwlne to hang you, sah? Marse Frank, what dey do to yo’?” “The Yankees have surrounded the bouse, and are closing in on us; by and by they will capture us and hang us, too, I suppose.” “De good Lawd have massy, am dat de truf?” “Doan say dat, Marse Frank. Look heah, chile, run up dat tree an’ pull dis yere kettle up and git in it; den deys cain’t pester yo’.” There was no time to lose, and so two of the men climbed rapidly into the tree and very soon, by the help of the clothes line, succeeded in getting the huge kettle safely placed in one of the branches. Now they were fortified, with plenty of ammunition, and so they awaited the enemy with that vengeful silence which betokened much ill to their disturbers. And they did not have to wait long; scarcely were ■they safely secured In their strange aerial fort ere the Federals broke through the cordon of wood and came rapidly to the spot “Have you seen three rebel soldiers pass by here?’ the leader asked of Su•an. I “I’se sho’ I ain’t." But her too emphatic denial caused them to be suspicious, and the turf disturbed around the foot of the tree directed their attention into it where they saw the strange spectacle of the kettle. Almost at the same time one of the soldiers made a cramped movement, showing part of his hat above the rim, and they were observed. Instantly they were summoned to surrender, but their only reply was three •harp reports from their rifles and each •hot stretched a Yankee cold in death upon the sward. Shot after shot was fired against the thick Iron sheeting of the kettle, but in vain, for they all caine sputtering down through the leafy boughs, flattened and useless against its side. But at every volley of the besieged more Federals were stretched upon the ground until at length they retired in sheer dismay. An ax was procured, but it meant death to every one who dared to use it. Finally some soldiers were sent to look for a cannon, and it began to look as though all would soon be over with the daring three who had so gallantly beaten off a hundred. They had given up all hope, and were preparing to die with the exultation of knowing they were victors; the cannon had arrived and was trained directly Upon their little air-castle. In another

NTIL very recently there stood near the little town of Acworth, in northern Georgia, a . giant oak tree. At first there was nothing about this king of the forest to distinguish it

moment they would be blown into eternity, when they suddenly heard the sweetest music in all the world to them —the wild rebel yell! Such was the battle of the kettle, and after peace had once more made all happy Capt. Merritt carefully preserved the kettle that had saved his life. Although the tree was killed in the battle, and although the kettle began quite soon to corrode and rust, he would never allow them to be removed. Years passed away, but still the grim, battlescarred veteran retained Its aerial seat with calm dignity. Once it had sustained the attack of a crowd of small boys who threw rocks against its sacred sides and upon another time an illfated ’possum was drowned in the rainwater accumulated in it. Finally it was destroyed, together with the grand old tree, by a bolt of lightning in 1884. He Wai Determiaed to Die. Our Civil War had many “purple testaments” that showed its ruthlessness and wolfish cruelty, but these are war’s main features, and the following only proves it: Death for some had no terrors; for renown and shoulder straps some risk it, or through defense of principle or remorse some seek it. The First Tennessee enlisted for three months* service. Braver men never shouldered a gun or gave the rebel yell. It was largely Irish in its make-up, had as many daredevils as ever folowed the beat of drum, and earned a fighting record second to none. They mutinied, not for want of love for Dixie, but because, their term of service being out, they wanted to choose their own commands, in which they were not only willing to fight for her, but, if needs be, die for her, as many of them did. The conscript act was in force when their enlistment ended, under which they had to stay in their old command. The rules of war are retroactive, one-sided —wipe out past promises and obligations.'

Sullen and unyielding, surrounded by batteries and regiments of foot, they ' had at last to succumb. All re-enlisted save one, who defied them and Invited their fire. This was Doyle, a swarthy, gloomy, forbidding-looking man, largeframed and of great strength. His arrest took place, but his court-martial was put off from time to time to induce him to change his mind, which he doggedly refused to do—why, was never learned, as he carried the secret to his grave. It was said his hands ( were not free from blood when he en-1 tered the army. When the Confederate forces evacuated Corinth and fell back to Tupelo Doyle’s guard was scarcely nominal, as it was hoped he would go within the Federal lines and save the necessity of his trial and execution, says a writer in the Portland Oregonian. It availed not, for a day or two after Bragg’s army went into camp at Tupelo, to the amazement and deep regret of all, Doyle, of his own free will, unguarded, stalked into the guardhouse and to his death. ~ { Though Gen. Bragg was the most rigid disciplinarian in the army, he respected what he thought was Doyle’s adherence to principle, and delayed the trial. There was a weird, sad fascination for the man, a desire to lay bare the secret of that gloomy soul, who shunned his kind, talked with none except the good old Catholic priest, who in vain tried to dissuade him from his i almost suicidal purpose. The morning j of his execution was as bright and beautiful a one as ever invited man to I enjoy and wish for a long life, but it had no bright side for Doyle. From where his shackles were struck off the spot chosen for his death was fully a quarter of a mile, yet he refused to ride, walked behind the wagon that carried his coffin, keeping step to the mournful music and beat of drum. Lieut Col. Steevers of the Twentyfirst Louisiana "was the officer of the day, and it was his duty to carry out the death sentence. The place chosenl was a semi-circle of rising ground, on which the brigade was drawn up, with a depression of level ground, in which was the open grave, and by it a rough, unpainted coffin, near which Doyle stood, refusing to kneel, eyes bandaged, which he at first rejected. The firing party, twelve in number, stood ten paces in front of him; one of the rifles held a blank cartridge. When Col. Steevers bandaged his eyes he begged him to re-enllst and his life would be spared, but a shake of his head was his only answer. Then the colonel stepped aside, dropped a white handkerchief, trembling fingers pressed the triggers, and Doyle fell back a corpse. Saved by an Attack of lllnear* At one time a, party of Union soldiers were searching for a “ranger” who had rendered himself disagreeably conspicuous by his daring raids on the enemy, and, not finding him, they declared their intention of taking his young wife a prisoner. Mrs. C , the ranger’s wife, fled to a neighbor’s for safety, and while there the fright and anxiety gave her a severe nervous attack which confined her to her bed for several days. During this time a Union officer appeared with orders to search the house for Mrs. C— —. The gentleman of the house conducted him over the whole building, but refused to allow him to enter one room. The officer insisted, so the gentleman led him to the door of the sick chamber, pointed to the girlish face lying among the pillows, and said: “I am perfectly willing, gentlemen, to allow you the use of my house, but you see before you my daughter dangerously ill, and I beg you do not disturb her. Mrs. C you will not find in this house.” So the officer left, and never knew that the woman for whom he was searching was the sick girt he had so kindly left undisturbed.

HOW TO CAMP OUT. F s Bi C J .. I 4 ■ Owe 3 -Jl—- ik*

A writer in the American Boy gives the following valuable hints on the best methods of making a camp: Select some site near lake, pond or stream, if possible, where you can enjoy the threefold pleasure of fishing, boating and swimming. A party of three or four gives better satisfaction, and an A tent, at least 7x7 feet, should be used. If you cannot procure a tent'' you should not give up the trip in consequence, for an Indian wigwam covered with bark and boughs may be substituted, or, better still, a “lean-to” covered with bark and boughs or sod, can be built A boulder or embankment is necessary for this. If you have a tent, but cannot conveniently carry the tent poles, the accompanying illustration will show you how to do without them. Select a dry place for the camp, on a slight knoll, if possible, in order that the rain may flow off readily. The following lists are for a party of four boys making a three weeks’ trip. If they do not have to hire the boat, the trip should not cost them over two dollars each for the entire three weeks, counting what each one can take from his home. If a boat has to be hired this will make the expense of the trip about three dollars each, or only one dollar per week each for a trip that will prove to be worth to each one an hundred times that amount. Here are the lists; if you contemplate camping, copy them carefully: Four quilts, two blankets, two rubber blankets, two short-handled axes, plenty of rope, extra suit each of old clothes and underclothes, plenty of fishing tackle and a very large box of worms, target, rifle, camera, bathing suits, frying pan, two kettles, coffee pot, eight tin plates, four steel knives and forks, plenty of nails and spikes, six spoons, two large spoons, two butcher knives, four potbooks, five tin dippers—pint sizetoaster, sheet-iron for fireplace, iron rod for crane, soap, towels, rags for dishcloths, cuts, etc.; thread, safety pins, needles, court plaster, ointment, Jamaica ginger, Epsom salts, five pounds cornmeal, fotir double loaves of bread, two pounds of coffee, one-half pound of tea, four pies, four dozen doughnuts, four dozen cookies, fbur cans roast beef, peck potatoes, one-half peck of onions, salt and pepper, five

BLUFFED AND ESCAPED. The Exciting Experience of Admiral de Mello of Brazil. “I see by the papers,” said a New Orleans coffee Importer, “that Custidio de Mello, who is described as a ‘banker,’ was arrested in Rio the other day for conspiracy against the Brazilian government. No doubt the average reader passed the little cable dispatch by without recalling the fact that De Mello was the hero about ten years ago of one of the most desperate and dramatic exploits of recent times. It is an Interesting story. In 1893 Admiral de Mello was in command of the Brazilian ‘navy,’ which was undoubtedly the queerest conglomeration in the world. It consisted of half a dozen old scows and one tip-top, bang-up, first-class battleship—tlje Aquidaban—the equal at the time of anything afloat It was the admiral’s ‘flagship,’ and one fine day he astounded everybody by sailing into Rio harbor and calmly sending word to President Peixotto that he wanted his resignation. When Peixotto recovered from his astonishment he told him to go to blazes, and De Mello thereupon declared the city under blockade. Rio lies, as you know, on the timer side of a large bay, with a very narrow entrance. There were no guns at the town heavy enough to do the big battleship any damage, but at the harbor, mouth there were two forts that could easily blow her out of the water. So De Mello had really sailed into a rat trap, staking everything on the chance of bluffing Peixotto out He could not shell Rio on account of foreign interference, and for three solid months he circled round and round the bay, trying repeatedly to make a landing and a dash into the city. He was enormously outnumbered by the shore garrisons and always beaten back with loss, and eventually his situation became about as desperate as can be readily imagined. Food and water had both run short; it was impossible to get more supplies; all hands, Including De Mello himself, were reduced to walking skeletons, and meanwhile the batteries at the harbor mouth had been powerfully re-enforced. In this plight Peixotto supposed he would be only too glad to surrender, and sent a demand to that effect. ‘You are bottled up,’ he said in substance; *you can’t get out, ayd you can’t make a landing. Its a case of surrender or starve.’ De Mello sent back word that they would starve. In the next couple of weeks men did die

pounds of sugar, four qans of condensed milk, five pounds of salt pork, four cans of clams, four cans of baked beans, three pounds of crackers. Pack these things in soap boxet upon which you have placed hinged covers. Four boxes should hold all but the tent and bedding, which you can make into one bundle. , In preparing your camp, hang all the kitchen utensils upon nails driven into a large tree near your fireplace. Nail two boxes, like cupboards, upon another tree near where you will eat your meals. In these place all the foods but the canned goods, which you can set on top of the boxes. Keep your clothes in your tent or hut. Make a frame for an awning and place your rubber blankets over it Under this build your tables of old boards or poles, together with seats. Stretch a rope to hang and dry your clothes upon and air your bedding there every pleasant day. Also dig a trench around your tent to carry off the rain. Arrange to fatsen your boat securely and you will be pretty well settled. You can make tent pins as in figure 1 (a), or cut them in the woods as in figure 1(b). The most satisfactory bed is made by covering the ground two feet deep with pine needles, and over this placing a few light hemlock boughs. Cover this arrangement with your rubber blankets at night. Make your bed upon this and you will never be damp. If you prefer to Sleep off the ground you can make a bed as in figure 2, with small, springy poles, and cover these with boughs. Figure 3 shows what to use in lieu of a stoVe, a piece of sheet iron 18x24 inches. For boiling and chowders make a rack or crane as in figure 4. Have the cross rod (a) of iron; gas pipe will do, as this will not burn off and drop your dinner into the fire. A piece of strong wire, bent as in figure 5, makes a pot-hook, to be used in figure 4. When four go camping the best method in regard to work is to pair off, that is, let two do all the work one day and the other two do the same the next day, and so change about There are generally farmers living in the vicinity, of whom you will be able to purchase milk, vegetables, and other things you may need.

on the Aquidaban of actual starvation. Then De Mello decided to end it all in a grand coup de theater, and one night he started at full speed for the harbor mouth. Concealment was out of the question, and the battleship made its dash with lights blazing, flags flying and band playing. I met the admiral afterward in Caracas, and he told me they had no expectation whatever of getting through, but their sheer audacity so disconcerted the gunners at the forts that they failed to land a single effective shot As she passed the narrows the Aquidaban let loose a double broadside and steamed triumphantly out to sea. De Mello was In exile for years, but he was finally pardoned and returned to Rio. This is the man who has just been arrested for a new conspiracy, and I think you’ll agree with me that he is an individual who is apt to make things pretty hot when he gets started. If I were President of Brazil I’d put him in the bastile and throw away the key.”—New Orleans TimesDemocrat Still There Was a Profit. “And now, doctor,” said the patient, as he prepared to depart with the mixture, the lotion and the pills, “what have I to pay?” “Oh, say 7s 6d,” replied the doctor. “Make it even, doctor.” “Well, well, we won’t quarrel about trifles.” The patient laid a sixpence on the table, and, with a polite “Good morning,” was making for the door, when the doctor called after him: “Stop! stop! what’s this?” “It’s all right, doctor,” blandly replied the patient. “You said you would wake it even, and everyone knows that six is even and seven odd.” “Get you gone, you scoundrel,” roared the irate medical man. “I’ve made fourpence out of you, after all!”—London Tit-Bits. 1 — • ' Bound to Be Heard. Jester—l understand that our pastor is going to preach through a megaphone hereafter. Jimson—Why is that? Jester—Why, the sleeping members of the congregation snore so loudly that the others can’t hear.—Ohio State Journal. Dream. “Ah, Miss Clarindl! may I dream that you will return my love?” “You may, but it won’t come true!”— Life. '

WHEN THE ORCHARD GIVES A PROFIT. Time is required before an orchard may begin to give a profit. One cannot expect returns from an orchard in a year, as with animals, hence the sooner the trees begin to bear the less the loss of time, land and capital. It is important, therefore, that the best of care be given young trees from the start. BUTT AND TIP KERNELS FOR SEED. Professor Shamel, instructor in farm crops at the Illinois College of Agriculture, says that it is a good plan to shell off and discard both the tips and butts of the corn ears selected for seed. That was what we were taught to do when young, and we thought it the proper way until we saw the results of a trial made by the late Dr. E. Lewis Sturtevant, while Director of the New York Experiment Station at Geneva. He planted several rows of corn, placing the kernels in the drills just as they grev? in order on the cob, also strips in which one had seed from eight butt kernels in each row, another from eight tip kernels in the rows, and the third eight Kernels from each row as near the middle of the ear as possible. We think in every test the kernels from the tip gave earliest ripening corn, and in more than half also produced a larger yield than those nearer the middle of the ear. In every case the yield was at the rate of several bushels less per acre from those kernels near the middle of the ear. CUT HAY EARLY. Practical feeders have all noted that farm animals, are less likely to make satisfactory gain during the spring months. Sometimes they will even lose flesh unless given the very best of care. They often refuse to eat the usual amount of forage. I have found that by saving my best forage until last that I can keep the animals from losing flesh and in a great many cases can make them gain. For this reason I find it desirable to have on hand a little supply of early cut hay or corn fodder. With milch cows this early cut forage makes it possible to keep up a fairly good flow of milk until the cows are turned to grass. Not only do the animals do better when the best forage is retained for spring months, but the animals seem to be in better condition for making satisfactory gains when turned onto pasture. This is reasonable, for this kind of forage is similar in composition to grass, consequently when the change from winter to spring feed comes, there is but slight difference in the character of the food. Early in the winter animals are in better condition to consume and make use of die more mature fodder crops. This is due partially to the appetite being keener during cold, crisp weather, and the digestive <i>rgans being in a more healthy condition. Where a large amount of hay is to be put up, it is, of course, 1 difficult to cut it all when in bloom, but every effort should be made to harvest as much as possible at that stage. —L. O. Folio, in New England Homestead.

BUYING A COW. Dairying is something new in this part of the country. Few farmers know the real value of a good cow. It is generally considered that a cow is worth from $35 to S4O, and if she is a common scrub, she is clear property at that price, if milk is worth $1 per 100 and a cow cost S4O per year to feed, and the manure pays for the labor (but it does not), the cow gives 10,000 pounds of milk per year, and returns a profit of S6O. A cow giving 5,000 pounds returns a profit of $lO, and one giving 4,000 pounds or less returns nothing; labor and stable room about the same, besides the offspring from the 10,-coo-pouhds cow is worth at least $lO per year, and from the 5,000-pounds cow probably $2, and from the scrub nothing. Counting the lifetime of a cow 12 years the 10,000-pound cow gives a profit of S7OO, the 5,000-pound cow, $l2O, and the 4,000-pound cow only the value of her calf at birth, and the service taken off that amount. When buying a cow, we should use the same judgment as we do when buying a horse. A small scrub horse will sell for SSO to S6O; an ordinary farm or driving horse will sell for SIOO to $110; but if we want a good draft horse, of a good roadster, we pay $l5O or S2OO, and a good horse will readily sell for this amount, because they are bred to perform the work they are bought for. If this is true of a horse, it is also true of a cow. In my experience a striall horse cannot perform the same work as a larger one. Neither can a small cow. She might do it for a few years, but her will not allow her to do so for any length of time, because she has not the strength in her body to sustain her in her work as the larger cow has. The large cow will consume more coarse fodder, but the small cow will need more grain to do the same work, and then she can’t do it; at least, she never has done it for me.— The Southern Farmer. ■ THE FAMILY GARDEN. The family garden usually pays a greater profit on the labor bestowed upon it than any other portion of the farm, even managed by the old fashioned method of. small plats and beds and hand cultivation. This being the case, it can surely be made to pay a much greater ratio of profit by planning to plant everything possible in long rows far enough apart so as to work them with a horse and cultivator, thus greatly relieving your muscles. And the saving in cost of cultivation is only a small part of the benefit of the long row ar-

rangement. It will naturally lead to a much more frequent and thorough cultivation of our garden crops. The important advantage of a frequent stirring of the surface soil amongall our growing crops, we are convinced, is too often greatly underestimated. It is said that it pays to hoe cabbage every morning during the early part of the season, and, although this may be carrying it to an extreme, we are convinced that a more frequent cultivation than is ordinarily given might prove profitable. The frequenf breaking of the crusts admits of a freer circulation of the air to the roots, and aids them to make the most of all the dews and rains which fall. Next to actual irrigation, frequent and continued surface cultivation aids in securing and retaining moisture and supplying it to the growing plants.— New England Farmer. GREEN MANURIAL CRO?S. Green manurial crops are now considered essential to good farming for several reasons, the principle being that certain kinds draw nitrogen from the atmosphere and thus add to the fertility of the land. The fall of the year is usually the time when crimson clover is seeded, and as it is liable to fall if seeded too late farmers have selected August (or hot later than the middle of September) as the best period for seeding the crop. As crimson clover seems to fall unexpectedly, and at other times gives good results, it is difficult to induce some farmers to use it, but as a rule many failures that are attributed to the crop are due to mistakes on the part of the farmer. They have been informed that crimson clover could be sown on the ground, before corn was cut down, and a good crop of clover secured without any preparation of the soil; but, while crimson clover really grows at a season of the year when no other crop is Occupying the land, and can be turned under even before warm weather appears in the spring, yet it is not so good a servant as to thrive under adverse circumstances. It does not fulfill the expectation of those who desire to secure a crop .without labor. The fact is that it requires soil that has been well plowed, and itAvill grow rapidly if given an opportunity. Early seeding permits it to get a start and make considerable growth before winter, thus enabling it to withstand a severe season. It then starts off early in the spring, and by the time the farmer is ready to plow his corn land the crimson clover will be of sufficient height to be turned under as manure. Where the farmer desires to improve his soil with green crops he does not expect to invest largely in commercial fertilizers, but he can assist his green crops by the use of one substance that is not- costly and which is also a plant food. This substance is lime. When the land is plowed the farmer should apply about 20 bushels of air-slaked lime, harrow well and then broadcast the seed, harrowing again. The lime renders the soil somewhat alkaline, which fits it for the work of the minute bacteria which perforin an important part in deriving nitrogen from the atmosphere and altering it so as to render it suitable for plants. The nitrogen is converted into nitric acid, while the plant depends upon the soil for its mineral matter. The, ash of a plaiit will always contain lime, if only in small quantities, but the ash of clover shows lime to be an important ingredient. Lime also assists in the liberation of the inert materials of the soil, thp roots of the clover utilizing them as food for the plants. The entire crop, when plowed under, consequently not only adds nitrogen to the land but returns also the mineral elements derived from the lower soil, as well as the lime taken up during the growth. When the crop of crimson clover is plowed under it will be of advantage to apply about io bushels per acre more of lime in order to assist in neutralizing, the vegetable acids that may be generated in the soil during the process of decomposition of the clover. While an application of commercial fertilizer will of course Increase the crop of clover, yet the objects of many farmers is to attempt to avoid such expense and renovate their soils by the use of lime and crimson clover only. Green manurial crops give good results on all soils. Whether a farm is fertile or impoverished the farmer cannot add* too much fertility to His land, and the cheapest method of improvement, except loss of time in some cases, is by plowing under green crops. If he is desirous of saving time he should rely on commercial fertilizers. Fortunately crimson clover occupies the land only at a period when no crop can be grown (from fall to spring), hence it is not in the way of any other crop, and as it adds nitrogen to the soil (which is the most expensive ingredient in fertilizers), the farmer can re-enforce his clover nitrogen in the spring with a potash and phosphoric acid fertilizer. Fertilizer manufacturers understand the value of crimson clover to farmers and they consequently prepare brands which contain the mineral elements only. The farmer, however, will lose nothing by having some kind of clover crop on his land. The growing crop will prevent loss from leaching of the soil, and by shading the soil the conditions are made more favorable for the work of the micro-or-ganisms which are so essential to success with certain crops. The large amount of green material that may be turned under renders the land better enabled to hold moisture, and humus is formed while the covering crop is on the land. Outside of the cost of the seed but little expense is connected with the growing of crimson clover, and farmers should not omit it from their rotation of crops.—Philadelphia Record. It is said that i,ooo pounds of poultry will cost less to raise than i,ooo pounds of beef, and will sell for almost twice as much. New Zealand is picking up in manufactures. At last accounts she had 6,438 factories, with 48,938 employe*.