USA > Georgia > Floyd County > Rome > A history of Rome and Floyd County, State of Georgia, United States of America; including numerous incidents of more than local interest, 1540-1922, Volume I > Part 63
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Forrest was given the finest horse in Rome by Col. A. M. Sloan, and admiring women cut off locks of his hair?
The celebrated "Green Corn Dances"' of the Cherokee Indians used to be held on the lawn of Chief Ridge's home?
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MISCELLANEOUS-TABLOID FACTS
Maj. C. A. De La Mesa, U. S. A., hung a large American flag over Broad street in Reconstruction days and forced ex-Confederates and civilians to sa- lute it?
Col. Marrast Perkins has served with the Marines all over the world?
Rome's first real cyclone came Saturday, April 16, 1921, and resulted in a loss of no lives?
The first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson lies buried beside her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Saml. Edward Axson, in Myrtle Hill Cemetery?
The term "Cherokee" means "Upland Fields"?
A Congressman-Judge John H. Lumpkin-sleeps in the old Seventh Avenue Cemetery?
Henry Grady was accustomed as a Rome newspaper editor to scratch notes on his cuffs? That his trunk was attached when he left Rome for Atlanta, and his wedding silver was threatened?
The Rev. Sam P. Jones did not start fighting liquor until after he had left Pome?
Major Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") wrote a saucy open letter in 1861 to "Abe Linkhorn"? The original Bill Arp was a Chulio District farmer? Major Smith was a law partner of Judge Joel Branham and Judge J. W. H. Underwood?
Theodore P. Shonts, Chicago and New York traction magnate, came to Rome about 1900 to select a school for his daughters, Theodora and Marguerite, and on requesting a negro cabman to take him to the most interesting spot in town, was driven to Myrtle Hill Cemetery?
The Noble Foundry made cannon for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and the machine lathe that bored them is still in use at the Davis Foundry & Ma- chine Shop?
Rome's business district was burned by Sherman's army in 1864, and the mes- sage that brought his orders to march to the sea was sent from Rome?
Chas. Morgan Seay, actor and playwright, formerly made motion pictures for Thos. A. Edison, and has had 50 photoplays produced?
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, C. S. A., visited Rome Dec. 3, 1868, as the guest of Major Chas. H. Smith?
Henry A. Gartrell, uncle of Henry W. Grady, was mayor of Rome in 1860, and moved to Athens in 1865?
Mayor Zach Hargrove once issued $50,000 of local money to meet a financial stringency, and was called to account by the Federal authorities?
A sword hilt, a carved pipe and piece of breastplate were unearthed at Rome which are believed to have belonged to Ferdinand DeSoto?
The old Seventh Avenue Cemetery was abandoned and Myrtle Hill established in 1857?
Martha Baldwin Smith (Mrs. Robt. Battey) was the first white child to be brought into Floyd County?
The first monument to the Women of the Confederacy was erected in Rome?
Rome was visited Saturday, Oct. 8, 1910, by Theodore Roosevelt, and President Harding spoke to her citizens Friday, Jan. 21, 1921?
Woodrow Wilson was visiting an aunt, Mrs. J. W. Bones, at Rome, when he met his first wife, Ellen Lou Axson?
Mrs. Wilson's father, the Rev. Saml. Edward Axson, accepted the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church in 1866 without any promise of salary?
The benches of Rome churches were used to build pontoon bridges during the Civil War?
Church basements were used to quarter horses of the Northern Army?
William Jennings Bryan, Wm. G. McAdoo, Col. Roosevelt, Dr. Albert Shaw, Miss Ida M. Tarbell and Dr. Howard A. Kelly have addressed the students of the famous Berry Schools?
The Berry Schools constantly refuse admission to the sons of wealthy fathers?
Rome's Belgian Colony settled at Carlier Springs, three miles east of the city?
Dr. Louis Mathieu Edouard Berckmans, native Belgian, was a skilled violinist and maintained a hermit's retreat at Mt. Alto?
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
Chief John Ross as a boy was known as "Tsan-usdi" ("Little John"), and later as "Koo-wes-koo-wee" ("Swan") ?
Chief Ridge was called "Ka-nun-ta-cla-ge" ("Man who walks on the ridges or mountain tops") ?
Prof. J. J. Darlington furnished the inspiration for the establishment of the Darlington School?
Gen. John B. Gordon attended school at Hearn Academy, Cave Spring?
Lavender Mountain and Lavender Village were named after George Michael Lavender, pioneer trading post man?
Ferries were a profitable industry before Rome's bridges were built?
Col. John H. Wisdom rode like Paul Revere to warn Romans of the approach of the Federals from Gadsden in May, 1863?
Rome entertained Governors Jos. E. Brown, Herschel V. Johnson, John B. Gordon and other executives?
Benj. Cudworth Yancey, brother of Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, secession leader, served as minister to Argentina? Also that he was slated for Ambassador to Great Britain by President Buchanan when Civil War complications interfered?
A casual Roman-Capt. John D. Williamson-participated in the last affair of honor in the South under the code duello, with Pat Calhoun, of Atlanta, near Cedar Bluff, Ala., Saturday, Aug. 10, 1889?
A Roman-Wm. G. Campbell-established a world's record for looping-the- loop in an aeroplane?
Jim Montgomery created the "Velvet Joe" tobacco advertising?
Chas. Iverson Graves served abroad in the Khedive of Egypt's' army?
Thomas Berry and Col. J. G. Yeiser once commanded American troops on the Mexican border?
Two Romans-Rev. G. A. Nunnally and Seaborn Wright-once ran for Gov- ernor on the Prohibition ticket, and Seaborn Wright was mentioned for President? Hooper Alexander ran for Governor and Congress?
John Temple Graves once ran for Vice-President on the Independent ticket?
Col. J. Lindsay Johnson served as census director of the Philippines and died in the islands?
Donald Harper, Paris lawyer, is a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor?
"Lord Beresford's" real name was Sidney Lascelles, and that he wrote a book- let about Rome?
Stockton Axson, brother of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, was born at Rome in 1867? The site of Rome 381 years ago was possibly an island?
Col. Cunningham M. Pennington laid before the Confederate Cabinet in 1861 at Montgomery a plan for an armored warship?
Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest hitched his horse where the Hotel Forrest now stands?
Danl. R. Mitchell was known as the father of the Rome bar?
A Confederate signal station was operated on Eighth avenue during the Fed- eral occupation of Rome in 1864?
The bachelors of "Poverty Hall" some 25 years ago bought a tract of land on Mt. Alto with the idea of building a lodge?
Judge John H. Lumpkin died on the veranda of the Choice House (later the Central Hotel), July 10, 1860, while conversing with political friends?
Howard Tinsley is in the consular service at Montevideo, Uruguay?
A locomotive of the Rome Railroad, called the "Wm. R. Smith," was used April 12, 1862, in the pursuit past Kingston after Andrews' Wild Raiders on the "General"?
The Nobles tested Confederate cannon by shooting them into a bluff across the Etowah River during the Civil War?
A steamer steamed up Broad street to Third avenue in the flood, March 31, 1886?
Dr. George Magruder Battey, of the Augustus N. Verdery place, "Riverbank Farm," had one of the finest poultry establishments in the United States?
M.O. Comnon
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
Rev. Luther R. Gwaltney first suggested to Col. Alfred Shorter the establish- ment of Shorter College?
Capt. Francis Marion Coulter built a dozen steamboats at Rome?
Telamon Cruger Smith-Cuyler shook hands with Grover Cleveland and King Edward VII of England?
Sproull Fouche filled the post of American vice-consul at Bucharest, Rou- mania ?
Rome and Georgia doctors held indignation meetings and threatened to lynch Dr. Robert Battey for performing the Battey operation, Aug. 27, 1872? Also that Dr. Battey defended himself so ably at a meeting in the State Capitol, At- lanta, that Henry W. Grady referred to him as the "Cicero of the Georgia Medical Profession"? Dr. Battey was a civil engineer, then pharmacist, and had six chil- dren before he practised medicine? In his youth he clerked in a dry goods store at Detroit, Mich., for Zach Chandler, later United States Senator?
Col. Hamilton Yancey roomed with Henry W. Grady at the University of Georgia, Athens, and was one of his groomsmen at his marriage in Athens to Miss Julia King .?
Col. Alfred Shorter nearly always walked to town, a mile, from "Thornwood," his West Rome home, with his walking stick under his arm?
"Maplehurst," home place of the president of Shorter College, was bought in January, 1869, by Capt. J. M. Selkirk, of Charleston, and later became the prop- erty of Hugh T. Inman, of Atlanta, and Joe L. Bass, of Rome?
Dunlap Scott, member of the Legislature, passed around a petition March 20, 1872, for a bill admitting Forrestville (North Rome) into Rome? North Rome was first called Woodville?
Judge Joel Branham about 50 years ago enjoined owners from selling the face of Myrtle Hill Cemetery to negroes for residence purposes?
The Nobles left Rome and founded Anniston, Ala., because they thought East Rome land they wanted for their foundry extensions was priced too high?
Other names suggested for Rome were Hillsboro, Hamburg, Warsaw and Pittsburg? Also that South Rome along the Etowah River was once known as Hillsboro? Also that the Etowah was sometimes known as "Hightower"?
The Rev. Marcellus Lyttleton Troutman, Methodist minister of Pope's Ferry, graduated at the University of Georgia law school after he was 50?
Generals of the Northern Army occupying Rome in 1864 accused prominent Rome women of supplying the Confederates with information by "underground telephone"?
A Cherokee Indian returned from Indian Territory about 40 years ago and dug for buried treasure on the Sproull (Haynes-Howel) place, north of Rome?
Soldiers of the Union Army dug into graves in North Rome, searching for gold and silver plate?
Colquitt's Scouts hung Col. L. D. Burwell several minutes by the neck to make him tell where his money was hid? Also that Mrs. Robt. Battey concealed $500 in gold in her stockings and shoes for him?
Rome women used "smoke house salt" during the Civil War?
Miss Florence Fouche, the newly-wed wife of Capt. Edward Jones Magruder, of the Rome Light Guards, went marching off to war with him with pistol and dagger in her belt?
Mrs. Hiram Hill sent the Mitchell Guards away with a speech and a silk battle flag?
The Rome Courier, Capt. Melville Dwinell, editor, used to swap subscriptions for stove wood and "anything that could be eaten or worn"?
Danl. R. Mitchell gave the land on which the First Methodist Church origi- nally stood on Sixth avenue?
Bishop Thos. Fielding Scott, of Marietta, founded St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Rome?
Alfred Shorter was a Baptist?
Ivy Ledbetter Lee, publicity director of the Standard Oil Co., New York, lived in Rome more than two years?
Bauxite was first mined in Floyd County?
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MISCELLANEOUS-TABLOID FACTS
MISS MARY DARLINGTON, of Washington, D. C., first graduate (in 1877) of Shorter College, and sister of J. J. Darlington.
J. J. DARLINGTON, lawyer and educator, who taught many Romans and whose gene- rosity made possible the Darlington School.
The "Pony Clubs" were white men who blacked their faces and robbed the Indians, between 1830 and 1839?
Capt. Reuben Grove Clark donated $3,000 toward the Sunday School room of the First Presbyterian Church in 1896, and it was named the Rosalie Clark Me- morial?
Prof. Palemon J. King was once the best-known school teacher in Floyd County? Prof. Hay Watson Smith was a Presbyterian preacher as well as a teacher?
Miss Elizabeth Lanier, granddaughter of Sidney Lanier, the poet, spent a week from Jan. 24, 1921, at the Berry Schools? That Dr. Albert Shaw, of New York, editor of the American Review of Reviews, visited Berry April 21-26, 1921, with Mrs. Shaw and called the school idea the greatest in America?
The late Dr. A. W. Van Hoose, president of Shorter College, taught young ladies for 40 years?
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson attended the Rome Female College?
Joshua Daniel, grandfather of Lucian L. Knight, state historian, owned a plantation up the Oostanaula River?
Daniel R. Mitchell sold the Mitchell plantation of 2,500 acres, up the Oosta- naula, including Whitmore's Bluff and Island, in 1863, for $80,000 in Confederate money in preference to $60,000 in gold?
Chief John Ross was arrested in Tennessee in 1835 near Spring Place, Murray County, with John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home," and John H. ("Big John") Underwood, of Rome, was one of their military guard?
Ross offered to sell the Cherokee lands to the Government for $20,000,000, but the proposition of his rival, Ridge, for $5,000,000, was accepted?
Major Ridge was breveted by General Andrew Jackson for bravery at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Tallapoosa River, Alabama, March, 1814? Also that the Cherokees nicknamed Jackson "Straight Talk"?
Judge Jas. M. Spullock, superintendent of the W. & A. (State) Railroad, con- tracted with the Noble Foundry for the construction of the first locomotive built
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
of native materials in the South, the Alfred Shorter (1856), at $11,000, and Gov- ernor Jos. E. Brown refused to pay such an "excessive price"?
John Ridge (son of Major Ridge) and his sister, Sally, were educated in the East, and were accomplished musicians?
In June, 1839, at an Indian Territory settlement, Major Ridge was shot to death from ambush; his son John was killed with knives, and Elias Boudinot, editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, was hacked to death with tomahawks by Chero- kees who claimed they had betrayed the Nation?
The first automobile in Rome was driven from Atlanta by Edward H. Inman? Bolling Sulivan owned the first pneumatic tire bicycle?
John Temple Graves rode a "big and little wheel" bicycle dressed in a silk hat? The Mayo Bar Lock ("lock and dam") was named after Micajah Mayo?
Motor boating is now a popular sport in Rome?
The steamboats have practically disappeared?
Boy and Girl Scout organizations in Rome are among the livest in the State? Rome lends itself more readily to development by the city beautiful plan than nearly any city in Georgia?
Rome and Floyd County commercial, educational, religious and social advan- tages are unsurpassed, and climate and water are of the best?
Rome and Floyd County have produced or sheltered the following: Congress- men Augustus R. Wright, Thos. C. Hackett, John H. Lumpkin, Jno. W. H. Under- wood, Judson C. Clements, John W. Maddox and Milford W. Howard; United States Senators H. V. M. Miller and Wm. J. Harris; Comptroller General John T. Burns, Attorney General Richard A. Denny, Assistant Attorney General Graham Wright; William H. Hidell, secretary to Alexander H. Stephens; John Johnathan Pratt, inventor of the pterotype (typewriter) ; Col. B. F. Sawyer, in- ventor of the paper bag and a newspaper press; James Noble, Sr., and his six sons, the "Iron Kings"; Frank L. Stanton; the Rev. Jas. W. Lee; Jas. W. Lee, Jr., New York advertising expert; Major Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") ; Mont- gomery M. Folsom; Jno. Locke Martin; Jos. A. Magnus; Israel S. Jonas; Jno. H. Towers, naval aviator; Gen. Wm. L. Marshall; Eliza Frances Andrews, botanist; Miss Martha Berry; Geo. B. Ward, mayor of Birmingham; Arthur W. Tedcastle, shoe merchant; Jno. W. Bale, speaker pro tem of the Georgia Legislature and later Indian claim agent; Edward A. Heard, New York dry goods merchant; Will McKee, Boston shoe merchant; Edward E. Magill, of St. Louis; Dr. Elijah L. Connally, M. B. Wellborn, Walter C. Taylor and Walter G. Cooper, of Atlanta; Dr. Julius Caesar LeHardy de Beaulieu, yellow fever expert of Savannah; Eugene LeHardy de Beaulieu, chief construction engineer of the Selma, Rome & Dalton Railroad; Prof. Wesley O. Connor and Prof. Jas. Coffee Harris, principals of the Georgia School for the Deaf, Cave Spring; Gen. Francis S. Bartow, of Savan- nah and the Confederate Army; Col. B. F. Sawyer, Geo. T. Stovall, Phil Glenn Byrd, Melville Dwinell, John Temple Graves, J. B. Nevin, J. Lindsay Johnson, M. A. Nevin, Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp"), W. A. Knowles and A. B. S. Moseley, newspaper editors; Gen. James Hemphill, of Mississippi; Joseph Watters, Dun- lap Scott, William Smith and James Wells, Legislators; Dr. W. C. Doss, of Col- lege Park, Ga., and Allie Watters, of Atlanta, inventors of the Doss puncture- proof automobile tire; J. H. Lanham, inventor of the Lanham cotton cultivator; Thos. F. Pierce, Wm. M. Crumley, Atticus G. Haygood, Alex M. Thigpen, Wm. H. LaPrade, Sr., Gen. Clement A. Evans, Weyman H. Potter, T. R. Kendall, Sr., W. F. Quillian, S. R. Belk, J. H. Eakes, B. F. Fraser, C. O. Jones, Walker Lewis, S. E. Wasson, Chas. H. Stillwell, W. M. Bridges, J. M. M. Caldwell, George T. Goetchius, Sam P. Jones, G. G. Sydnor, C. B. Hudgins, Father M. J. Clifford, and Marcellus L. Troutman, among ministers; L. P. Hammond, T. R. Garlington, James Banks Underwood, G. W. Holmes, Robert Battey, J. B. S. Holmes and Henry H. Battey, among doctors; John Temple Graves, Jr., and James Montgomery, au- thors; Gordon L. Hight, wireless expert; Hooper Alexander, United States District Attorney, and David J. Meyerhardt, Assistant United States District Attorney?
Items from the Press
A SPLENDID METEOR-On last Thursday night we were so fortunate as to behold one of those grand meteoric phenomena of which we had often read, but never before witnessed. A little before 10 o'clock our attention was at- tracted by a streak of pale white light which seemed to proceed from the moon. It moved with great rapidity across the sky, increasing in brilliancy and size, until about half way its ca- reer, it appeared as large as the full moon, its body as dazzling as the sun, surrounded by a beautiful purple and blue light, and followed by a stream of fire a foot or two in length. Just be- fore it apparently reached the earth it changed to a red ball of fire, and ex- ploding with a cracking noise, threw off fragments in every direction and disap- peared. Its course was from southeast to the north and was visible not more than half a minute, but in that time traversed nearly the entire arch of the firmament, hundreds of miles in length. Although the moon, which was shining very brightly, was completely eclipsed, yet if that luminary had been below the horizon the effect would have been grander, if possible.
None of the meteors recently seen, of which graphic accounts have reached us, could have excelled this in magnifi- cence and sublimity. Its size, brilliancy and velocity excited in the beholder sen- sations of mingled awe and admiration. It impressed us as a spark from the
glory of Heaven, appearing for a little while to remind man of the existence of an avenging God and the doom of this wicked world, and then as if to remind him of His mercy also, it speed- ily vanished, lest he might gaze upon it and perish .- Rome Tri-Weekly Cour- ier, 1860.
TOM COLEGATE SUSPECTED- Don't know whether Thomas Colegate, prominent advocate of the single tax system, and resident of the Fifth Ward, had anything to do with it, but it mat- ters not whether he was the cause of this week-end of rain or not, he is re- sponsible for a great deal of disap- pointment on the part of ardent lovers.
Last week, getting out his books on the stars and other things in the heav- ens, he made the discovery that on the night of November 27 the old world would pass through the tail of Biela's Comet, or rather what had been the tail, and that as it did the country would be treated to a great and grand shower of shooting stars.
This show comes about by reason of the fact that this comet has become di- vided against itself and is now only a mass of flying fragments, having broken in half a number of years ago, and is continually breaking up since that time.
Now, with the warning of the shoot- ing stars for the twenty-seventh, young
I
THE BATTERED HYDROPLANE NC-3 MAKING PORT AT PONTA DELGADA
John Towers commanded the trans-Atlantic expedition in the spring of 1919, andpersonally had charge of the NC-3, which was nearly lost in a storm. (Note condition of lower wing). Lieut. Commander A. C. Read, in the NC-4, completed the flight to Plymouth, England, via the Azores and Portugal. It was the Irst time an air vessel had crossed the ocean.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
and artful lovers recalling the right of man to implant a kiss on lips of maid for every shooting star, went out and made numerous "dates."
The dates were kept, and maybe the rest of it was carried out, but the shoot- ing stars were not seen, for the skies are dark with clouds, and the heavens cannot be seen. It's a sad world, and no one is to blame but the weather man, unless Mr. Colegate by reason of the fact that he feared his reputation as an astrologer brought out the clouds and turned on the rain.
Lightning bugs can't even be rung in, as their season has passed with the coming of Jack Frost .- Wm. A. Patton in Rome News, Nov. 28, 1920.
ROME IS TREATED TO HAIL- Hail, hail, the gang don't care!
This parody on the popular song was sung by early risers going to work Tuesday about 8:30 o'clock in certain sections of Rome, including East. Rain fell hard first, then hail for five min- utes, then more rain. The sky looked like it would be overcast practically all day.
The fall of rain was heaviest about 8. Street gutters became clogged with
JOHN H. TOWERS, U. S. N., whose attempt to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1919 near- ly cost him his life off the Azores Islands.
leaves, and citizens used rakes, espe- cially at Second avenue and East Sec- ond street. Much warmer weather ruled during the day, and fires were not badly needed .- Feb. 8, 1921.
COMET FIZZLES OUT. By G. M. B., Jr.
Just ten short years ago at night A comet came to town
By name of Halley; flitted by In sphere of great renown, Full widely heralded as bright And largest of the age, The wonder of the milky way, The joy of every sage. It came and stayed a little while, Proved quite a chilly frost;
Some folks fell off their lofty perch,
While other folks got lost.
Now, Biela's comet, so they say, Was due in Rome last night; The fog and rain so heavy fell That none could get a sight, But early tumbled off to bed And did not bother much About the comet's escapades, Their debts or sins or such.
"The comets often worry me," Piped Thomas Colegate, seer ; "I sometimes wish they'd chase them- selves Around the world from here." -Nov. 28, 1920.
SEES WILSON IN METEOR-A meteor of unusual brilliancy was ob- served in the northern heavens Fri- day night, March 4, about 6:40 by stu- dents and teachers of the Berry School as they were leaving the dining hall and going to their dormitories.
David Reynolds, who occupies the chair of history and has made a repu- tation at Berry as lecturer on "South- ern Heroes and, Celebrities," imme- diately attached a significance to the falling star in connection with the passing of Mr. Wilson from his high public position. "The brightest star in the political firmament is thus pass- ing," said Mr. Reynolds, as he watched the meteor sweep slowly across the northern sky from west to east and dis- appear from sight.
"When beggars die there are no com- ets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
"I consider Mr. Wilson the third great American-Washington, the Father of his Country; Lincoln, the Emancipator, and Wilson, the great Pacificator and Idealist-stand alone
18 Glover
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
and unique among the many lesser stars in the wide stretch of our firmament of the great and wise and good lead- ers that have been raised up for our country." -- Mar. 7, 1921.
AURORA BOREALIS THRILLS ROME-The occasional appearing Au- rora Borealis appeared in the sky over Rome last night near midnight and cut its capers for about 15 minutes, finally retreating after a spasm of subdued but spirted flashes. The flashes seem- ed to come together at a central point at zenith, arriving from a considerable distance outward. They shed a little light as far down as earth. The light was in beams.
Robert Shahan, Boy Scout and resi- dent of Eighth avenue, phoned The News that he and Porter Harvey and Cundy Bryson were on Tower Hill watching the performance., The News passed the word to Thomas Colegate, the well-known astronomer, of 103 Myr- tle street, South Rome, and Mr. Cole- gate declared he would stick his bean out the front door immediately.
Webster's Shorter School Dictionary gives the following definition of au- rora borealis: "An atmospheric phe- nomenon consisting usually of streams
GEORGE B. WARD, former Roman, who served twice as Mayor of Birmingham, Ala., during the period of that city's greatest growth.
of light radiating upwards and out- ward toward the east and west from the north polar region."
It was said that aurora interfered with the telephones and the telegraph.
After the above was written, a fair young lady of East Rome phoned The News that a young man calling on her had discovered the lights in the sky while looking for an inspiration up there .- May 15, 1921.
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