Mountain Echo Newspaper

April 2, 1886 (Vol 1-No 5) Page 1 continued

Abstracted / Transcribed & Copyrighted by Linda Haas Davenport

When the print is so faded that it cannot be read <.....> will be used . All transcription will be as found in the paper, misspellings and all

Page 1 Column 4

Democrats, your attention is respectfully called to an article from "Lucian," published in this issue of The Echo, concerning a county convention to nominate a county ticket. He argues the question in a logical and forcible manner. Read what he has to say. It is time to commence organizing; in fact, the party should always be organized and ready for action. Thorough organization was the secret of the success of the Republican party which held the reins of government for over twenty years. To accomplish anything Democrats must work in perfect unison. Democrats should certainly wish to see their principles prevail, because they believe them to be right and conducive to good government. This being the case, it is folly for Democrats to stand idle and let a party in the minority crowd them off their own ground and establish its principles and hoist its banner. Cast aside your little side issues rather than your political principles. You may have to eat a little "crow" some times, but eat it like a "little man" and a thoroughbred Democrat; 'tis the "bitter sweet" of political life. Now that the Democratic party has the reins in national affairs shall we relinquish our hold on county and State affairs? If we thus allow the enemy to break our ranks, it will not be long before they will regain their former position and power.

IN FAVOR OF A COUNTY CONVENTION: Mr. Editor: - I see that in the last issue of your paper you suggested that our County Executive Committee meet and take some steps looking to the interests of the Democratic party in the coming campaign.

I think this is a good suggestion. I think the party ought to organize and put its ticket in the field for county officers. Every true Democrat is so from principle. Every true Republican is so from principle. Every true Democrat believes that the principles of the Democratic party are more in the interest of the people than the principles advocated by any other party, and the same may be said of very true Republican.

Then, if this be true, it is our duty as Democrats to see that the doctrines which we believe to be right prevail in our county and country, so far as our influence goes .

Then let us have a convention and nominate a county ticket, and I believe that the Democrats of Marion county will rally to the support of the party with an enthusiasm heretofore unknown. The people know, that the Democratic party is the party that is fighting monopolies of every kind. They know it is the party which is opposing that infamous and unconstitutional doctrine of tariff for protection, by which the rich are made richer and the poor made poorer every day.

With these facts, and an hundred others that might be mentioned, looking for the Democrats of our county in the face, and with a good ticket in the field, who doubts a triumph for the party? LUCIAN

THE UPPER WHITE - WORK TO BEGIN AGAIN BY THE ENGINEER CORPS IN APRIL: A Gazette reporter yesterday saw Capt H S Taber, U.S.A., in charge of the the <sic> engineer work of this district. In reply to inquiries he stated that the work of improving the Upper White River which was suspended during the winter, would be resumed again April 1. The work would be in charge of Mr. E F Officer, as it had been before. The work first would be Buffalo Shoals, then the party will move down the river to meet last year's improvements. With the present appropriation, it is expected to be able to secure a fair low-water channel to Buffalo City, and a medium channel over the shoals. Capt Taber is very much interested and active in the improvement of our navigable streams, and is working faithfully and with good results in this direction. - Little Rock Gazette, March 26th

Column 5

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY - A MAN BY THE NAME OF GRAVES IN A FIT OF INSANITY MURDERS HIS TWO CHILDREN. [Baxter County Citizen]

 Our town was thrown into a state of intense excitement last Monday evening by the report that Ben Graves, living on Mr. Strait's farm, some five or six miles south of town, had murdered his two children. The facts as near as we can learn them are bout as follows: Graves waked his wife up about 12 o'clock Sunday night and informed her that he was going to kill the children, telling her if she moved or said anything he would kill her also. He then took the oldest, which was just two years old, and beat it to death with his fist, and while he was working with the dead child his wife escaped from the house, leaving the other child, which was just six months old, in the bed, and ran over to a neighbor's for help. Mr. Strait and Mr. Knight accompanied her back to the house and found one of the children lying on the floor and the other on the fire, burned to a crisp. Graves escaped in the woods after killing the children, but was captured early next morning and safely lodged in jail. The coroner's inquest developed the fact that Graves had shown his first symptoms of insanity the day before. He claims that he killed the children under the instructions of God, and that they were offerings for the sins of the people. Great excitement prevails in the county, and some have fears that he will be lynched. Up to the time of the killing Graves had a good reputation in the community in which he lived, and was said to be affectionate to his children.

WIVES OF SOME SENATORS:  Washington Letter in St. Louis Globe Democrat: There are many brilliant and entertaining women in the families of the present Senators. Mrs. Logan and Mrs. McPherson, wife of New Jersey senator, are the two cleverest women in the circle, each in a different way. Mrs. Logan is the typical western woman, and Mrs. McPherson is a typical eastern woman, clever, polished, graceful and brilliant in conversation. Bad health and long absences abroad have kept Mrs. McPherson from being as well known as she would be were she here all the time, but when present she is a power and a force quickly appreciated. Mrs. Mahone is a universal favorite, and, besides shining with front of diamonds on grand occasions, shines by her conversation, which, is full of humor and originality. Mrs. Mahone always has a bubbling of mirth about her, and relates her own experience and describes things and people in a way quite her own. She is an uncompromising American and carried the flag triumphantly through many encounters with the insufferable British tourist during her recent stay abroad. She has a proper scorn for the Europeanized American and his affectations, and a comical story that she once told was of her going to a store or shop, rather, in an English town and innocently asking for crackers. The proprietor hunted through all the shelves and boxes and under the counter, and finally sent the apprentice boy up a ladder and brought down a dusty paper of fire crackers. Though she had to call a cracker a biscuit for the two years she was away, Mrs. Mahone is quite the same as ever now that she is in the land where a cracker is a cracker. Mrs. Spooner, wife of the Wisconsin Senator who has made a stir lately with his maiden speech and funeral oration, is another of the very clever women of the group. Mrs. Spooner is a fine vocalists in addition to other things, and is a quick witted and humorous in conversation. Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Frey give the same honors to Indiana and Maine by their clever conversation, full of witty turns and Senator Dawes' daughter keeps up conversational fire-works right and left all the time. There are other ladies of equal talent in the circle, and Mrs. Don Cameron, Mrs. Call and Mrs. Dolph are considered the most beautiful among them, while Mrs. Eustis, Mrs. Ingalls, Mrs. Manderson and Mrs. Hale are women of fine and striking appearance.

Column 6

The Hot Springs News reports the sale of two mines situated in Montgomery and Polk counties, to St. Louis capitalists, for $10,000 each.

Thirty-four buildings, comprising nearly the entire business portion of the city of Helena, were burned on the morning of the 21st ult. the loss is estimated at $325,000, covered by about $225,000 insurance.

Snow two foot deep on the 19th of March is a very remarkable thing for this latitude, yet that is a sight which any citizen of Batesville could have seen last Friday in the rear of J C Bone's furniture store. - Batesville Guard

There's some talk of the Wheelers putting a ticket in the field at the coming election, in this county. We understand, however, that some of the leading members oppose making a political organization of the Wheel. - Baxter County Citizen

Work has begun in earnest on the extension of the 'Frisco road south from Ft. Smith. One hundred thousand feet of lumber has been ordered to build shanties for working men on backbone tunnel, and 120 hands are now at work boring the the <sic> hole. Altus Albion

It is now asserted by persons who claim to be posted in such matters, that the acreage of oats and corn will this season be largely in excess of former years in this State. If this be true we are on the eve of a more prosperous era in agriculture in Arkansas, and meantime, the blighting influence of "anaconda" mortgage will soon be known no more forever among our farmers. - Rural and Workman

The Senate passed the House bill giving the widow of Gen Hancock a pension of $2,000 a year.

Some one claims to have found out that the bushel of corn which the distillers buy for thirty cents is eventually sold to the drinkers for $40.50.

Miss Abigail Bates died at Scituate, Mass., a few days since, aged 89 years. She was one of the two heroines who during the war of 1812, drove the British forces from that harbor by concealing themselves in the bushes and playing vigorously upon the fife and drum, thereby leading the enemy to believe that a large force was ready to receive them.

The total cost of the liquor drank is $527,500,000 per year, and the average per head of our entire population would be ten dollars. Last year $316,000,000 worth of beer was consumed, and there was more money sunk in spirits by $316,000,000 than was paid for boots, shoes and cotton goods. The amount expended on drink yearly would sustain six million people.

A St Louis commercial touris, whose territory is in Arkansas, made a trip through the worst portion of Texas and was making some very uncomplimentary remarks about the country through which they were passing, when a brother traveler asked him if he did not like Texas better than Arkansas. "No," he replied, "I would rather be a bob tailed dog and belong to a negro in Arkansas than to be Governor of Texas."

The disagreeable weather this week caused us to suspend the rules and turn loose a spring poet. Hear him warble:
Come spring, hurry! Come rushing like a savage;
Bring forth the early verdure, with candidates and cabbage.
Come roaring like a lion, come raging like the sea,
And strew the earth with plenty, whatever it may be.
Abide amongst us early, especially the grass,
For the hungry hordes of cattle have kept a hungry fast.
Renew the earth in splendor, spread out the velvet green,
Dish out abundant blessings from the subject to the queen.
Come spring, we are in earnest, don't linger on the way,
The turnip-tops are giving out, the corn about to play.
The turkeys want to gobble, and all other hope is lost,
Unless you hasten up this way and sit down upon the frost.

Harrison Banner, 26th ult. Died. -- Of apoplexy, on the night of the 22nd inst., after an illness of but a few hours, James A. Wilson, of this town. He was born in Yancy county, North Carolina, in 1821; removed to Marion county, Ark., in 1846, and was once a Representative of that county in the Legislature. For many years up to the time of his death he had been a prominent member of the bar and had an extensive acquaintance and practice in North Arkansas. He leaves a widow and several children.