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 65
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The old man boarded a car bound for West Rome on Second avenue and started singing. He was warned at the transfer station to keep quiet, but the licker had put him in paradise, and so he was easy for the police to catch. It is said he can dig a lot of ditches when he leaves whisky alone, which he doesn't do about the same time each Saturday. -Sept. 4, 1921.
BOOTLEGGER WARNED-Judge W. J. Nunnally handed out Saturday in City Court sentences to a number of persons convicted during the week. Will Martin, old bootlegger, was fined $100 and given 12 months on the chaingang, but sentence was suspended pending good behavior. "If you are caught with a bottle on your hip, or whisky on your breath, Will, in you go," announced the
court. "You have been coming up here about 40 years, it seems, and I have almost given up hope of reforming you. Last time you told me you were going to get into the church. I hope you will reform this time." Will swore by the everlasting devils that he was going to straighten up and be a man .- March 20, 1921.
FIERCE RABBITS-A rabbit fights and whips a hound belonging to John Andrews, farmer, says a report from Kingston, North Carolina.
Andrews says the rabbit had been grazing around a moonshine still.
This is of great scientific interest to frequenters of back rooms and cellars, where they sell you a whisk broom with every drink, to brush yourself off when you get up.
It confirms the minstrel gag that "one drink of white-mule will make a rabbit spit in a bulldog's eye."-Sept. 2, 1921.
A QUEER APPETITE-An over- dose of watermelon, canned fish and corn liquor proved more serious early this morning for Henderson Jackson, 40, than the usual colored folks' relish of catfish and ice cream might have been.
Henderson kept his soft drink stand open near the Fairbanks plant in West Rome Sunday and appeared to be all right up to 10 o'clock p. m. He had eaten some watermelon and salmon. At 1 a. m. today he staggered up to Annie Perkins' home nearby and complained of pains in his abdomen. He said he thought he would be able to make it home soon. He never got away from here, although Dr. C. I. Cain was called.
L.R. Gwaltuy
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
Coroner Ogles held an inquest this morning, at which a verdict was return- ed saying he died from an imprudent use of whisky and watermelon. Inves- tigators found a salmon can opened and empty at his stand .- Aug. 8, 1921.
BEER ON SPEED PLACE-Two barrels or 130 gallons of distilled beer were discovered Friday morning by Revenue Agents Williams and Ward- law at the home of J. M. Weatherby, at Bell's Ferry, Oostanaula River, on the old place of the late Terrell Speed, Floyd County "coonskin statesman." The officers searched a place where brush had been piled on the river bank, in the belief that the distillery had been inundated by the high water.
It is understood that a number of stills have been flooded along the Oos- tanaula and also the Etowah.
Weatherby is said to have stated that he had the beer as slop for his pigs. He was put under $100 bond by United States Commissioner Printup and he made the bond all right.
Judge Printup put Jim White, colored, under $1,000 bond, Jim having been charged with pumping water through a pipe line half a mile to a still, which was destroyed by Mr. Williams and Mr. Ward- law. Another negro ran away too fast for the officers to overtake him. This
TERRELL SPEED, the "coonskin statesman," trapper and fisherman whose friends urged him for the state legislature.
was near Villanow, Walker County, and it was at this place, November 24, that the officers caught Bob Love, Dave Shahan and James Fitzpatrick, farm- ers, who were put under bond by Judge Printup.
"Lightning sometimes strikes twice in the same place," remarked Mr. Wil- liams, "and it's sometimes white light- ning."-Dec. 19, 1920.
COMMEND CHIEF-Methodist min- isters in weekly session this morning adopted resolutions commending Chief of Police Charles I. Harris for his order closing illegally operated stands and places in the city on Sunday .- Jan. 24, 1921.
CATFISH GET "DRINK"-Catfish in the Oostanaula River Thursday be- haved queerly following a windfall of sprituous liquors that came their way Wednesday night when Policemen Mell and Jess Johnson and Revenue Agent Grover C. Williams poured 14 gallons of licker into the gutter at the police sta- tion, in the presence of Chief Harris, several other officers and a thirsty newspaper man.
The officers found the spirits in an automobile near the plant of the Indian Refining Company in East Rome, and brought car and contents to the sta- tion. The owner of the car is said to be known. The capture is supposed to have made a dent in the supply for a certain section of East Rome where young men gather .- Feb. 6, 1921.
WOMAN'S DIVINE RIGHT-Wheth- er or not a wife has a right to take money from her husband's pockets while he is asleep or out of his room will be the point to be determined before Jus- tice Sapp Reese this afternoon, when a man of middle age will appear as prose- cutor of his young wife. It's a fine point of law that will be watched with much interest by all married men. It is alleged that the man left a goodly sum in his coat pocket under his pillow. When he went for it the money was gone. He charges that only his wife had been in the room .- Jan. 4, 1921.
PEANUT BUTTER CONSUMP- TION-W. McIntyre, manager of the Rogers' store at 503 Broad street, has received a check for $20, being second prize offered by L. W. Rogers for the largest sale of peanut butter. Mr. Mc- Intyre beat the best Atlanta store by $5.44. with 540 jars of peanut butter sold during two weeks .- Sept. 9, 1921.
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SPEED DEMON IN 1910-Editor Tribune : Your account in Sunday's issue of the police court society event of Saturday morning was very interesting, as well as humorous. I am glad if the part I played in the performance was a means of entertaining the good people of Rome for a few minutes. Such re- creation no doubt lengthens human life, as well also as making the said life a rippling stream of laughter-but "never again," so far as your humble servant is concerned.
I saw a machine going down Second avenue Saturday afternoon, Sept. 24th, 1910, at not less than 50 miles an hour. I have seen automobiles run at all speeds, slow, fast, touching the high planes, etc., but that machine beat all. Feeling it my duty to my fellow citizens to do what I could toward putting a stop to this reckless indifference to human life, I, at great personal inconvenience and neglect of my business, reported the matter to the police and attended the aforesaid society event.
The reckless driving of the autoist re- ferred to is well known and much talk- ed of.
In the future the aforesaid gentleman and his car, or any other man can drive down Second avenue or any other avenue, as fast as they please, so far as I am concerned. There will be no vol- untary second appearance of your hum- ble servant in police society events.
If the reckless running of machines on our streets is allowed to continue, the time will soon come when the broken limbs and lost lives of Rome people will present the automobile situation to you in a light so serious that it will not be presented to your readers as a humor- ous society police court event, but ac- counts of saddened, desolate homes and funeral processions will be their enter- tainment .- John H. Reynolds.
"PARSON" STAGES HOT BOUTS -"Parson" H. F. Joyner staged a se- lies of hot juvenile bouts with gloves Friday night at the Maple Street Com- munity gymnasium, and about 100 per- sons, mostly boys, attended.
Alton Cole knocked out Broadus Mur- dock in the third round. Referee Carl Griffin counted ten over young Mur- dock and Cole was declared the win- ner.
W. E. Bridges got the decision over Joe Brauda in a six-round bout, and Porter Harvey knocked the wind out of Robert Shahan in the second round.
Another entertainment of the sort is
being planned by Mr. Joyner in his ef- fort to teach the boys how to take care of themselves .- July 31, 1921.
CIVILIANS BITE "SAWDUST"- Nearly 200 people attended the boxing bouts Friday night at "Parson" Joy- ner's Maple Street Community House gymnasium. It was a good show for the boys formerly in the army who had learned the noble art of self-defense, but not so good for certain civilians who were out of condition. The doughboys knocked the "sawdust" out of their an- tagonists in short order.
Concerning the moral involved in boxing fostered by a church organiza- tion, Dr. Joyner said yesterday: "Some people who are invited to invest in our work occasionally say we are teaching young men things that they are trying to get them away from- fighting. What we are doing is teach- ing boys how to defend themselves on a basis of fair play. Most young fel- lows growing up are sensitive. They nurse little grudges a long time. A lick with the fist is remembered; it calls for retaliation at some future time; a lick with the gloves usually does little harm, and sensitiveness and grudges die out with it.
WM. T. COMER, of the Davis Foundry, be- side the machine lathe which the Nobles used to make Confederate cannon.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
"After getting a stout punch in the 'slats' or the nose, a boy comes up laughing, and everybody laughs with him. It is seldom anybody gets mad. The exercise is good for the boys, and if they are ever called upon to defend themselves, they can do a good job. The boys bring their girls to our bouts; they leave oaths outside and cigarettes at home.
"Rubbing shoulders is the best thing in the world for boys. Competition puts them on the same plane. They learn to win through merit, and this encour- ages them to make adequate prepara- tion, and to be prepared always. A boy who joins in with the bunch makes a better citizen than he who keeps aloof. He develops a sense of humor, of give and take, that is helpful throughout his
"Boys who engage in these friendly little bouts do not go around spreading tales and scandal about their compan- ions. They are too busy playing the game right to indulge in such."
Lockers for the gymnasium are due to be installed this week, and the next thing, Mr. Joyner hinted, would be a Maple Street Athletic Association re- cruited from the boys of the Anchor Duck Mill .- Aug. 16, 1921.
SARAH JOYCE STEWART and Ben Yan- cey's South American parrot, "Polly," who is a great pet with children near the Clock Tower.
HOUSEWIVES SUFFER-J. S. Ri- der, manager of the local gas plant, found himself an unpopular mortal this morning when he was forced to cut the gas off from every home, office and shop in Rome. The trouble was that a main under the plant got clogged up with tar or water, or both. Housewives called the plant from so many sources that the office man left the telephone re- ceiver off the hook until the damage could be remedied temporarily .- Nov. 2, 1920.
HIGHT'S WIRELESS MUSIC- Gordon L. Hight, amateur wireless op- erator, entertained his friends at The News office and a good many others last night with a wireless phone concert, having picked up a "message" out of the air from Pittsburg and connected it through his instrument with tele- phones around Rome .- Nov. 21, 1920.
BIBLE READING SET-BACK-De- claring the resolutions passed by the ministers and laymen on Bible reading in the public schools to be camouflage, Rev. H. Fields Saumenig, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Sunday urg- ed his communicants to oppose the movement. He said he approved read- ing and prayer in principle, but was against the "unlimited measure" of the proponents .- Dec. 6, 1920.
YANCEY PARROT ON HIKE-Ben Yancey's parrot "Polly" felt a touch of spring Tuesday and went flying away from his adopted home on East Second street, Tower Hill. He flew to the top of an oak tree in the yard of the Cath- olic parsonage on East First street, and there wailed:
"Polly wants a cracker, cracker, chew tobacco !"
Seeing a likely perch on the top of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, he flew there, and began to curse frightfully. His raucous cries brought a jaybird to find out what was the matter, and when the jay discovered that it was only a feathered biped like himself, he flew at "Polly" as if to devour him. The par- rot flung out a long wing, and, as the small boy would say, "hit him on the chin."
"Polly" is a South American bird and has a tail about 18 inches long and a beautiful coat of red and green feath- ers.
He created considerable interest dur- ing the recent World War by perching on the end of a large American flag which flew from a flagstaff at the top
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of the Neely School on Tower Hill, thus carrying out with a fine relish the eagle- like symbolism in Old Glory. The wind was strong enough to bear "Polly" at the tip end of the huge flag, and there he clung, shouting "Over the top and at the damned Germans, boys!" until hunger told him it was time to come down .- Mar. 17, 1921.
FINDS POSSUM IN TRAP-Sam Whitmire, of Everett Springs, is lucky at catching 'possums now and then. He was coming in to the town the other day and wishing he had one to take Mrs. Robert Battey. Before leaving, he went to the hen house to gather the eggs, and attached to a steel trap which he had set for some quadruped that had been catching his chickens he found a big fat 'possum.
Mr. 'Possum had been caught by the left hind foot. He was shoved into a crocus sack and brought to town, and served by Mrs. Battey with his best smile on and potatoes six inches high .- Jan. 10, 1921.
LINDALE HEN BUSY -- R. C. Banks, who resides near Lindale, is the proud possessor of a hen-a real old- time hen-that is worth her weight in gold. Banks declared that she is lay- ing one huge egg each day in the week, not resting on Sunday, and that every egg she lays has two yolks, which would make her laying equal to two eggs a day. At this rate, at the present price of fresh eggs, she would lay $50 worth of eggs in twelve months .- Tribune- Herald, October 29, 1920.
FOG HINDERS FIREMEN-The heaviest fog in years hung over Rome Monday night like a blanket and proved dangerous for vehicle drivers and pe- destrians. It was possible to see ahead only about 50 feet, and automobile lights proved almost useless. Horns sounded like the noise makers of steam- ers stuck in fogs.
At 10:02 p. m. the fire department answered a false alarm call from box 14, Fourth Ward, evidently turned in by a mischief maker. Through the fog the chief's car and the wagons plowed at reduced speed. The East Rome com- pany also answered. It was found that the glass plate over the key to the box had been broken, and the key was gone. So were the practical jokers .- Feb. 4, 1921.
INSECT PLAGUE HALTS CARS- An insect plague hit Rome for a few
hours Friday night. Although less were out last night, they could not be counted by any human device.
Romans attempted to get to their homes Friday night about 8:30 o'clock across the Second avenue bridge span- ning the Etowah and Oostanaula Riv- ers, only to be held up because the in- sects were two feet thick in places. One business man's automobile was stalled on the Etowah bridge. His wheels slid around as if he had been on a ball- room floor, and it was only by apply- ing a generous sprinkle of sand that he found it possible to continue home.
The insects swarmed on the wind- shield of another young citizen so he had to get down and scrape them off with a monkey wrench. At that he got plenty of them in his ears, eyes and hair, for they arose at his approach.
This young man said the critters emitted an odor as of stale fish. He ran into a meat market for some air.
The insects were about an inch long, with wings nearly that length, and narrow, black bodies. They did not bear any resemblance to anything worth while, but appeared to be de- void of all stingers. They congregated
FRANCIS MARION FREEMAN, of "River- side," Etowah river, whose home was a center of generous hospitality many years.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
especially under the electric lights, and there held close communion.
All day Friday and part of Saturday myriads of insects thought to have been the same as those infesting the streets gathered along the river banks. They weighted down willows and oth- er bushes almost to the snapping point, to such an extent that many of the insects fell off and broke their necks or were drowned. Great patches float- ed down the rivers, but did not seem to attract the fish. They looked suspi- ciously like young snake doctors, but that is an unofficial surmise .- June 19, 1921.
"PRIMA DONNA" AT CEDAR- TOWN-Julian Eltinge was driven from his fame as a feminine imperson- ator Friday night when Jim Maddox, disguised as the wife of Glenn Harris, captivated the Cedartown Kiwanis Club and guests with his presence and his voice (the voice being that of Mrs. Ben Yancey, who sang from a concealed po- sition while Maddox manipulated his lips.) In addition to this humorous stunt, Rome Kiwanians also participat- ed in the after-dinner speeches at the charter presentation of the Cedartown
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DONALD HARPER, native Roman who en- joys a snug berth in Paris as "Liaison Offi- cer" between the French and American governments.
club, which was held with elaborate ceremony at the new Wayside Inn. The charter was presented by H. E. Kel- ley, lieutenant governor of Georgia Ki- wanis clubs.
District Governor Bob Wessels also was present and made a happy address. Frank Reynolds' talk on "Bachelor- dom" was a screan.
Sixteen Romans attended the celebra- tion. They were: Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. Benj. C. Yancey, Mr. and Mrs. Hilary Yeargan, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Combs, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes T. Reynolds, Henderson Lanham, Jr., James Maddox, G. G. Harris, E. Pierce McGhee, J. W. Bryson, G. H. Hays .- Dec. 12, 1920.
A LAWYER ON THE HAT-Hats, styles of hats for men and how they should be worn, the evolution of the hat from barbaric days down through the ages, the hat as emblematic of man's downfall, the hat as a simile for man's attitude toward life was the topic of conversation and oratory at Wilson Hardy's presentation of a "top piece" to Walter Cothran last night at a dinner at the country club given by Mr. Hardy to members of the executive committee and special workers of the recent road bond campaign. The par- ticular hat in question was one designed as an emblem of chieftainship. It was a creation that might be set up as a stunning sartorial adornment for the species to rival the hats worn by the fairer but not weaker sex.
The dinner was a delicious assort- ment of foods served faultlessly and was of a flavor to give zest to the mood of the men who had gathered for a jubilee over the overwhelming bond election victory. Mr. Hardy as host presided with his happy manner on such occasions and announced that Col. Wright Willingham would present the hat.
"The hat is a symbol of man's down- fall, his subjugation," said Col. Wil- lingham, "and I have no pleasure in presenting one to a man of such dis- tinction as Walter Cothran, who should be regarded as one among the few capable of maintaining the exalted place of man."
"Time was when man wore horns!" dramatically cried Col. Willingham, with a hark-back to evolutionary pro- cesses and a shake of his handsome iron-gray mane. "He didn't wear a hat. Then he shed his horns and wore long, shaggy hair. In the present en- lightened age we forego hair and wear
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hat. Verily, man is softened by civilization !"
Col. Willingham declared that if Wal- ter Cothran must wear a hat, it should be one denoting courage, with the front pinned back to permit him to look every man in the eye, one with a feather to denote leadership, and one with stream- ers to ripple behind him as he goes forth to combat. It was such a hat that he presented to the chairman of the city committee whose generalship was credited with getting out a larger per cent of city votes for bonds than was cast in the rural districts under the leadership of Wilson Hardy.
Mr. Cothran responded, but did not promise to wear the hat beyond the confines of his home. His assigned subject was, "If the hat fits you, wear it." With this theme he likened the hat to a man's relationship to the com- munity. Some men are loath to dis- card comfortable old hats for a new one of a different block; some are loath to get out of the rut of old ways to take on new ways. Some men are so old fashioned that they refuse to wear a new hat style; some are so old fogy that they refuse to do anything for the advancement of their community. Some keep up with the procession
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WRIGHT WILLINGHAM, authority on hats, boll weevils, home-building, economics, bet- ter citizenship, high water and the law.
wearing new hats; some accept new duties and responsibilities of a civic nature. He said that in no other place in America are there more men and women who are willing to accept the new hat of civic service than in Rome and that the service is always well done.
Lester C. Bush read a few spasms of original verse on the bond campaign. Hughes Reynolds spoke of "Bonds Is Bonds," Leon Covington told how to keep dead men from voting, Ed Mad- dox glorified the "immortal 67" who voted against bonds, saying that they represented the factor really responsi- ble for the victory because they form- ed the opposition needed to arouse the advocates of bonds. He said he ad- mired their courage if not their judg- ment, but that always on all questions men disagree and that they were en- titled to their opinions.
Judge John W. Maddox, the "old war horse" of good roads, was asked to tell why he opposed (?) the bond issue. He said he was opposed (?) to spending the people's money for good roads be- cause it wouldn't be long before every- body is flying in airships and the roads wouldn't be used any more.
The guests responded to a toast to John M. Graham, whose personality as general chairman of the campaign was declared to have been the winning factor in the election. With a toast to the host who had so gracefully ful- filled a campaign pledge, the dinner adjourned .- June 23, 1921.
WUXTRY! FIRST STRAW-Sat- urday afternoon's balmy air brought out the first straw hat of the season. It was seen on a healthy young buck from a small town near Rome, and it at- tracted so much attention that a crowd of boys gathered and followed it some distance up Broad.
Rome merchants took the tip and be- gan to search for bills of lading on straw goods ordered some time ago.
Easter is expected to bring out a lot of straw hat wearers who are a bit timid as yet, not to mention the Easter bonnets that the women always wear, and the new suits worn by men and women alike .- Mar. 20, 1921.
WORK STREETS OR PAY-No- tices have been sent out by C. I. Harris, city marshal, requiring certain persons to appear at the City Hall Monday, May 16, at 7 o'clock a. m., with pick or shovel, for the purpose of working
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
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ROBERT BATTEY AS A DRUG CLERK IN ROME.
Dr. Battey went into business with his brother, Dr. Geo. M. Battey, at No. 3 Exchange Hotel Block, and was a pharmacist nearly ten years before he studied surgery. On the left is Dr. Wm. Farell, once city physician, and between them Dr. Farell's son, Johnathan. (From a daguerreotype, about 1848).
on the streets four days. Nearly every- body is included. The streets are said to be in bad condition, particularly in some of the neighborhoods, and if everybody will work, they can be put in shape to walk and ride upon.
However, anybody who can't afford to work for a dollar a day will plank down $4 and be excused .- May 26, 1921.
A POET'S TRIBUTE TO THE COW-By R. S. Kennard: Little do we realize the debt we owe to the cow. During the dark ages of savagery and barbarism, we find her early ancestors natives of the forests of the old world. As the bright rays of civilization pene- trated the darkness of that early pe- riod, man called upon the cow, and she came forth from her seclusion to share in the efforts that gave us a greater nation and more enlightened people.
In 1493, when Columbus made his second voyage to America, the cow came with him. Her sons helped till the soil of our ancestors, helped clear dense forests, and made homes possi- ble for the coming generations-and when the tide of emigration turned westward, they hauled the belongings of the pioneer across the sun-scorched plains and over the mountain ranges to the homes beyond. Truly the cow is man's greatest benefactor. Hail, wind, drought and floods may come, destroy our crops and banish our hopes, but from what is left, the cow manufac-
tures the most nourishing and life-sus- taining foods. We love her for her docility, her beauty and her usefulness. Her loyalty has never weakened and should misfortune overtake us, as we become bowed down with the weight of years, we know that in the cow we have a friend that was never known to fal- ter. She pays the debt. She saves the home .- May 1, 1921.
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