Wednesday, September 18, 1878 Joseph A. Carter, Esq., a dwarf, about 4 feet high, is financial agent of the Dandridge Watchman. George Southers, about 18 years of age, was murdered, just above Caswell's Station, in Knox County, last Friday, by an unknown party. The suspicious character, named Proffitt, who has been held at this place some time, was identified early last week as a murderer named Boone, and taken in charge by the Sheriff of Yancy County, North Carolina. His last murder, for it seems he has been quilty of several, was committed in a quarrel over a debt of five cents. ---Chattanooga Commercial. Jesse Rogers, Clerk and Master, and Cawood, Circuit Court Clerk of Claiborne County, who are charged with the murder of Ed Jackson, colored, for having criminal intimacy with the wife of Rogers, have fled the country. Cawood, who was recently re-elected as Circuit Court Clerk, was qualified on the 2nd inst. The body of the deceased, badly decomposed, was brought into Tazewell, Wednesday, when a warrant was procured for the arrest of Rogers and Cawood. They refused to accompany the Deputy Sheriff who was sent to secure their arrest, and while that officer left for reinforcements, the two men escaped. Cawood subsequently appointed young Rogers as deputy clerk, who is now performing the duties of the position. Efforts are being made to secure the arrest of Cawood and Rogers, but nothing is known of their whereabouts. ---Knoxville Tribune. Mr. Ed W. Tedford was elected Deacon of New Providence Church last Sunday. Mr. T.D. Carpenter showed us last week a fine, large apple, about thirteen inches in circumference, a specimen of some raised on his place. Ad Wilson---Ad Wilson was brought to Maryville last Monday, and delivered to the proper authorities. He was then taken to Knoxville, and lodged in the Knox County jail for safe keeping, to await the next term of the Circuit Court of Blount. He was brought over by Messrs. Cooper and Carver, two North Carolina men, who received the $500 reward in behalf of the capturers, Marion Carenger, T.F. Donaldson and C. Farley. And now who will bring Hut? The Whisky War--- Special Deputy Elias Cooper, while on a recent raid in Chestnut Flats, Blount County, a few days since, accompanied by eight men, visited the isolated rum-mill of George Powell, where they seized eleven tubs of beer and mash, four tubs of pomace, one hundred and thirty gallons of brandy singlings, five bushels of meal, two bushels of rye and two bushels of malt. The revenue squad also arrested Powell, the engineer of the mash mill, who subsequently escaped, while the men and women of his household were abusing and threatening the officers. The captured property was destroyed by the officers, who immediately started for this city on foot. While passing an unfrequented place in the mounatin, the squad were fired upon by parties in ambush, and a lively fusilade ensued. About forty shots were fired by their assailants, when the revenue squad returned the fire, but with what effect they were unable to ascertain as the attacking party remained in ambush. None of the revenue officers were wounded, though a bullet found its way through the clothing of Bennett Ledbetter, one of the revenue raiders. ---Knoxville Tribune, Sept. 11. Wednesday, September 25, 1878 Dr. Blankenship was summoned in hot haste today to attend on Lamar Wallace, who had an attack which, as near as we could gather, resembled apoplexy. As we go to press Dr. B. has not returned. Fletcher Emmett objected to being tried before U.S. Commissioner McTeer yesterday on the plea that he was a prisoner of the State and not of the U.S. Ad Wilson is a prisoner of the U.S. and not of the State. The inmates of Rule's Hotel are working out their bills macadamizing College Street. Yesterday George Lane, one of the guests, took French leave, leaving unsettled bills and John Scott discomfited. Sheriff Rule and his aid-de-camps followed in hot pursuit but failed to overtake him in his run for liberty. W.C. Jackson having failed to make his appearance at the last term of the Circuit Court for the charge of bringing stolen property into the State, his bondsman, Mr. Alexander Farmer, went after him and has brought him back to our county jail. He will there languish, we suppose, until our genial friend, Sheriff John C. McCarter, of Franklin County, Ga., comes to have another interview with him. The way of the transgressor is hard. Wednesday, October 2, 1878 Bristol News; Mr. Thomas Wright, who had sixteen balls shot into him during the war, has now a musket ball working out through his breat-bone, it having been shot into him at Chickamauga. A reward of $150 is offered of the arrest of the person who murdered George Southers, on the 13th ult., in Knox County. Daniel Hogue, late of Sevier County, was buried in the New Providence graveyard on the 30th inst. Last Sabbath Oscar Wilson lost another child. This makes three of his children he has buried within five months. Mr. B.T. Whetsell says that while going home from church last Saturday night he was shot at three times by some unknown party. Now it is reported that Henry Thompson, the victim of drink and a fall from a porch, is improving, and his partial recovery is possible. Miss. Goodwin, the eldest daughter of our esteemed townsman, J. Goodwin, lies quite ill with the neuralgic fever. We trust she may speedily recover. William Henderson, son of Squire William Henderson, having imbibed too freely last Thursday night, fell out of a window above Joe Anderson's saloon, hurting his side somewhat, and badly spraining his ankle. Dr. Blankenship visited him, and dressing his wound sent him home the next day. Another story is that he was drunk, and his horse threw him. Rev. Donald McDonald of Baker's Creek has purchased ten acres of land from J.P. Duncan for a building site. The land lies immediately back of the college woods. Mr. McDonald expects to remove there to educate his family of boys in the college. The foundations for his house are already laid. On Monday morning the sad news was brought to town of the death of Lamar Wallace, who was well known by many of our readers. During his canvass for Register before the primary election last spring he was injured by a mule, and never recovered from the effects of the accident. His death was sudden, although his sickness was noticed last week. We extend our hearty sympathy to the bereaved family. Wednesday, October 9, 1878 Mrs. Ragsdale, the mother of B.F. Ragsdale, who died at Chattanooga, has the yellow fever two miles from Knoxville and her death is expected. Charley McPherson writes us from Tunnel Hill, Ga., desiring us to correct a rumor which has been circulating in Maryville to the effect that his father is crazy and his mother dead. He says it is false and both of his parents are in sound state of mind. How such a rumor could have started we are at a loss to know. Wednesday, October 16, 1878 Mrs. Ragsdale died Tuesday, Oct. 8th, two miles from Knoxville, of yellow fever. She was 70 years of age. Diptheria is somewhat on the increase in Kingston and the vicinity. The families of Messrs. W.G. Barnwell, J.B. Childress and Charley Davis each lost a bright little boy from the disease last week, and we know of several other families who have little ones very low from the same cause. ---Roane Co. Herald. We are informed that while little Willie McGinley, son of W.D. McGinley, Esq., was playing near the fire this morning his clothing caught fire and his side and shoulder were badly burned. Mr. William Coning brought into our office this morning a mammoth sweet potato, weighing 7 pounds, and measures 25 inches in circumference. It was raised by Francis Hackney, of Friendsville. Who can beat it? Dr. J.B. Williams has received the sad intelligence that his sister, Mrs. S.J. Reid, living near Memphis, died on the 4th inst. So fearful of catching the disease were the people that no other help could be procured except that of a young man, who assisted the bereaved husband in burying his wife. A "young" earthquake visited this portion of our globe last Friday night. The editor of this sheet was asleep, slumbering as only an editor can, and, therefore, cannot give a graphic description of the shock; but others felt it, and it was sufficiently severe to rattle windows and scare the occupants of shaking houses. In fact, one young man on College Hill declares that a window in his room which was down when he retired was opened by the shaking it received! Mr. William Clemens, we notice, is vigorously running his molasses factory. He turns off some of the finest sorghum that we have yet seen. The product of his factory is over fifty gallons a day, and during the season he usually makes fully one thousand gallons. He has had an experience of eleven years in the business, and thus verifies the maxim that practice makes perfect. Last Wednesday Dr. John Blankenship removed a malignant fibroid tumor from the throat, just below the ear, of Mrs. Alex Henry, who lives on Little River, near Gamble's Store. The operation was performed without the aid of chloroform, which Mrs. Henry refused to take, enduring the operation with remarkable courage and fortitude. Wednesday, October 23, 1878 Rome, Ga., Oct. 18. ---At Talladega, Ala., last night Frank Bowden, Louis Whitson, and Alferd Plowman were examining an old pistol in Bowden's room. Plowman handed the pistol to Bowden when it accidently exploded, killing Plowman instantly. The parties are prominent young men of that place. On Monday evening a man named Lunnie Fulks attempted to clean out a well two miles from Greeneville containing bad gas. He entered the well three times and came out again, but the fourth time he attempted it he fell to the bottom of the well a dead man. They had to get him out with grab-hooks. --Chronicle. John Stowers, a colored man now living not far from Madisonville, came from Georgia in 1865, hired with Dr. Cooke two years, then rented a farm from Dr. Upton the next two years; then he bought 100 acres of land and paid for it, has now 300 acres of land, all paid for, and is making money every year, improving his land, and has everything comfortable about him. His success has been achieved by industry, economy, abstaining from the use of liquor and exercising good judgement in the conduct of his affairs. Mrs. William T. Johnson died at Louisville last Friday. The deceased was a daughter of Barton Warren, Esq. Henry Thompson, who has suffered so long from injuries received from a fall while in an intoxicated state, died last night, and is to be buried this afternoon. Old Aunt Polly Wilson, as she was familiarly known to many of our readers, died suddenly and tranquilly at her residence near Cloyd's Creek on last Sabbath morning, having recently passed her ninety-second birthday. Brownlow S. Dowell, formerly of this town, and who had been confined in the Nashville Lunatic Asylum, has written a letter to Mr. Parham, stating he had made a false key and has escaped, and that he is perfectly sane. He also sent the Topeka (Kan.) Commonwealth, in which there is a letter from him to Hon. Casey Young and others of Memphis, tendering his services as a nurse for the yellow fever sufferers. He refers to President Bartlett and Hon. M.L. McConnell, of Maryville, and others, as to his reliability. He said his wish was to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow-men, and he asked no reward. His services were not accepted, however. The Howard's had decided to take no more nurses not acclimated, as it is almost certain death. Wednesday, October 30, 1878 Michael Myres died of paralysis at his house 2 1/2 miles south of Morristown on the 19th inst. The "Pleasant Hill Church" at Sandy Springs, where our friend, Mr. J.B. Cothran, has been taeching school, was burned down last Thursday night. It is supposed that it caught from the stove, which was left with too much fire therein. While at Tuckaleechee Cove last week, we were shown the Big Spring. Mr. J.K. Walker, who showed us this remarkable spring, told us that it belonged to Mr. L.P. Dunn. It comes out at the base of a spur of the mountain, and has been confined by embankments so that the stream runs Mr. Dunn's saw and grist mill on the spot, and two others further down. We were told that at times it spurts up six feet from the ground. It is a remarkable stream, and well worth looking at. We are sorry that Maryville is to lose another of her citizens. Mr. C.E. Aaron, leaves tomorrow with his son, Frank, for Trenton, N.J. The good wishes of their many friends follow them to their new home. Four of our jail-birds last Saturday night sawed a hole in their cage, and thought somewhat of taking their departure. The four were Martin Davis, Fletcher Emmett and John Lakey, charged with murder, and W.C. Jackson, that Georgia fellow, so well known to some of our readers as the man whom Sheriff McCarter, of Ga., wants to see. But, alas! The hole was too small for anyone save our sly and slender friend Jackson, who alone wiggled through, and was to tend to the jailer, take his keys and unlock the rest. The jailer, however, discovered the state of affairs and made Jackson crawl through that same hole into the cage again. The four have concluded to board a little longer at Rule's Hotel. Wednesday, November 6, 1878 Young John McCulloch has sold his farm, and is preparing to remove to Kansas. Mr. S.A. Patton has built a neat dwelling house just beyond McKenzie's Hotel. The house is 15 X 34, with a wing. The building is one and a falf stories, has a bay front, and cost some $700. He is now building a neat front fence, and paving the front sidewalk. When the whole os completed it will form a creditable addition to the town. Mrs. Moore and little daughter and Mr. Frank Moore, left Maryville yesterday for Athens, where they will stay a week or so, before going to Mobile, Ala. Their Maryville friends wish them a prosperous journey. A very neat frame school-house has just been completed at Miser's Station, seven miles north-west from Maryville. The house will be comfortably seated, ready for the Institute to be held there on the 16th inst. The following from The Vermont Record and Farmer will interest our Maryville readers, as the lady named is now the wife of our townsman, Dr. Charles A. Fulton: By the marriage of Miss. Annie J. Estey, announced last week, Brattleboro loses a gifted and accomplished young lady, who has not only been prominent in social circles but in many a public entertainment, where by her talent in the dramatic art she was always ready to do her part. The best wishes of many friends will go with her to her new home in the sunny south. Wednesday, November 13, 1878 Clover Hill---Mr. John Wilkes concluded on last Thursday that married life was preferable and he would take to himself a wife, so he went out on Six Mile, taking with him Parson Jenkins, and was soon united to Miss. Nannie Gardner. Prof. T.J. Lamar and wife have been blessed with a little boy, who arrived last week. May the new comer find this a pleasant world. John D. Headrick, on Little River, raised 82 1/2 bushels of rye this year. He thinks it a profitable crop to raise, and has a large crop in for next season. Mr. Headrick is a successful farmer. Rockford---Was sorry to learn, from Dr. Cowan, that Mr. R.I. Wilson is still in a critical condition; for several months Mr. Wilson has been paralyzed. The Scourge. A Sad Yellow Fever Scene---The following is taken from the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette, and shows how sad have been the experiences of many living in the yellow fever districts of our land. Mrs. Mary Jane Reid was a sister of our esteemed townsman, Dr. J.B. Williams. "Mrs. Mary Jane Reid, wife of Rev. S.I. Reid, of Hernando, Miss., and sister of Rev. Aaron Williams, D.D., died of yellow fever at Horn Lake, Miss., October 4th. Her husband nursed her alone to the last. Two days after he wrote thus: "I got a bucket and washed the black vomit away as well as I could, and then put on the body only one of her dresses, and buttoned it. But the bed was saturated, and I could do no more. I wrapped a sheet and my blanket around her and covered her with a quilt Oh, it was terrible--alone with my dead; no words of sympathy, no flowers; nothing but yellow fever. I took all our clothing from the room, and with my satchel, went to the woods. I there made a big fire, and aired and smoked every garment, occupying myself till morning, it being about 3 o'clock when I left the house. I could not persuade anyone to go to Memphis for a coffin, the fever was so bad up there, but a couple of young men went to the railroad station and there made a rough box coffin of rough boards. It was the best I could do. Dear brother, it was most distressing to me to have my dear wife so badly dressed, put in so rough a casket. It almost broke my heart, but I tried to take comfort in the knowledge that her spirit was clad in white robes, and carried by angels to the bright world beyond. One night as I knelt by her bed, and prayed for her, she laid her fevered hand upon my head and said that "we had traveled liefe's pathway together so happily, but now we might be parted." She never thought of such a parting as this. The doctor came, with his big heart and helping hand, accompanied by a young man whom he had persuaded to assist, and together we put her in the coffin. To show you how fearful everyone is, I may tell you that when the young man came into the room he scattered lime all over the floor, pulled off his woolen garments, and lighting a pipe, filled the room with smoke. But for all that we were glad enough to have his help. No one could be got to drive the spring wagon with the coffin, so I got a horse to ride and led the horse hitched to the wagon. Some friends had dug the grave at Edmiston Church Yard. Three men accompanied me; the young man who helped at the house, the doctor and brother Hutchinson, the good old man I have told you of, and he is 89 years old. He told me that he had often thought of me, in my trouble, and that on the night she died, at midnight, he got up from his bed and prayed for my wife. I remembered that this was the hour when she grew easier, and breathed more freely. After the funeral, my dear brother, came the struggle. Friends, who had been so kind, and had visited us so warmly when we first came, were all afraid of me now. I was as if bitten by a mad dog. I thought I must go mad. I did not want to expose any of my friends, of course, and I could not go back to Hernando, for that was almost certain death. I almost wished that I, too, had died and gone with her. My clothing was yet out of doors, and I gathered them up and spent the night in a corn crib. After a prayer for my darling little motherless Willie, sleep came to my relief, and I did not awake till good Dr. Shaw came and bade me go to his house. I slept that night in his parlor, and was about to go away in the morning, I knew not where, but the doctor's wife said no, I should not be turned out like that, I should stay with them. So they took most of the things out of the parlor, and took the carpet up. I made a bed out of some old clothes, and they told me to stay there until it would develop if I were to be sick: if I did they were to send to Memphis and get a nurse. Are these not noble hearts? So here I am (instead of at church) today, in this room. I feel as I have imagined a man must feel who is condemned, but knows not the hour of his execution. I have written you in broken sentences, but faintly expressing my grief. Pray for me, my dear brother: these may be my last words to you." Tell Your Neighbors---That the Index agent is coming, who intends to visit every neighborhood in the county, and offer them the news of the county at lower rates than ever offered before. The following names have been added to the county subscription list of the Index since the 3rd inst.: E.B. McKeehan, T. Hart, John Hannum, J.H. Tedford, M.M. Irwin, J.A. Clemens, J.N. Mitchell, I.N. Yearout, John M. Boyd, Dr. Charles A. Fulton, Jeff Kidd, John McCulloch Sr, J.A. Porter, S.A. Patton, Jacob Henry, Alex Fagg, J.B. McKenzie, John C. McKenzie, A.J. Brewer, A.C. Speer, P. Hill, J.P. Raulston, J.T. Long, David Ish, Oscar Wilson, H.C. Kidd, Taylor Wilburn, S.F. Cowan, T.A. Mount, C.S. Hughes, J.A. Means, William Wilson, A.J. Grindstaff, Jerry Henry, Samuel Baker, Marion Rogers, D. Hollifield, Abram Wallace, J. Hillery Tedford, M.H. Edmondson, E.D. Hall, Bart Young, J.G. Presley, J.L. Martin, J.B.Cothran, M.C. Brown, H.B. McClure, Joseph Willocks, John McCulloch Jr, George Brown, Currier & Son, J.W. Farr, J.R. Scott, Charles Hutton, George A. Toole, Syke Greer, W.C. Chumlea, L.L. Ferrary, E.W. Tedford & Co, R. Taylor, A.P. Thompson, E.N. Parham, William Hodge, M.D. Milligan, G.B. Ross, F.M. Hood, Dr. John Blankenship, Eliza Coffin, J.D. Moore, B.F. Willard, B.L. Warren, J.W. McDonald, J.A. Jackson, H.F. McTeer, S.B. McTeer, M.A. Huffstetler, Thomas J. Miller, J.C. Hutton, M.A. Lane, Prof. J.M. Bowman, B.A. Orr, C.W. Cochran, D.W. McDonald, Sam Linginfelter, W.C. Davis, L. Frazier, J.W. Sparks, John McCampbell, W.W. Freshour, Thomas Riddle, Sam Whitehead, James Rollins, A.A. Coulter, John D. Headrick, J.W. Nuchols, John Holland, Eli Rhyne, Peter Rule, D.G. Wright, Alex Williams, Dr. R.W. Goddard, James Sams, John Wilkerson, M. Hooper, J.C. Martin, Harrison Henry and Campbell Gillespie. Wednesday, November 20, 1878 Mr. Nathan Sparks of Cades Cove, caught three bears last Saturday in his traps. During the last three days of the week, besides the bears, 5 coons were caught by him. Wednesday last, the 13th inst., Dr. A. Arbeely, who has been treating a son of John Mitchell, in Long Hollow, performed a difficult surgical operation, taking off the right leg, above the knee. The following physicians were presnt: Drs. F. Arbeely, John Blankenship, B.A. Morton, John W. Cates, James Cowan, J.W. Hannum, Matt Cox, S.H. McNeely. We learn the patient is doing well. A chickem thief attempted last week to make off with some of the inhabitants of William Means' hen roost at Clover Hill, but was pursued and shot at by Tom Sparks, a young man staying on the place. On a following night a second attempt was made, but a shot from Sparks drew from the thief an exclamation "Oh my arm!" and was followed by a hasty retreat. The thief was not known. Several chicken raids have been made at Clover Hill we learn, and we hope the thieves will be caught. The following names have been added to our subscription list since the 12th inst.: Sam Toole, John H. Logan J.L. McCamy, Maria Ambrister, William Burton, Alfred Seaton, Alexander Kennedy, William Teffeteller, Silas Morton Jr, Richard R. Lane, J.E. Pedigo, Dr. Matt Cox, G.W. McClure, M.T. Teffeteller, William Vaughn, H.B. Houser, Henry Ambrister,Charles Boyd, William Haggard, John Malcolm, Oliver McKerr, A.S. Henry, Sam Rorex, J.H. Dearmond, Rev. J.H. Morton, C.C. Cunningham, W.H. Anderson, J.C. Anderson, Sam Goddard, J.K. Cox, A. Logan, A. Heartsill, E.D. Harold, Rev. C.H. Henry, Cox, Smith & Co, J. Mead, Hannah Tedford, H.G. Mead, J.A. Mitchell, R.E. Johnston & Son, W.G. Hogue, W.H. McNeely, T.W. Keller, J.L. Cox, J.M. Armstrong, Sam Dunlap, Burt Howard, T.J. Robinson, Josiah Henderson, Joseph Miser, Peter Goddard, H.A. Hammontree, N.L. Smith, John Moore, Matt Anderson, A.B. Carpenter, G.A. Brannon, W.D. West, J.J. Phelps, P.W. Logan, James Farmer, J.P. Chandler, W.E. Cotter, A.J. Brewer, B.R. Amerine, W.H. Sharp and James McCauley. At Louisville---Tuesday, 1st inst., I visited the above named place. Met Mr. A. Heartsill, who has invented a plow which bids fair to prove of great value to farmers, and will pay him also. It has a harrow, and also a coulter, connected. A cut of the plow was shown me. Mr. H. will soon let the people know more about his invention, through the county paper. I next met Mr. A. Logan, whose hospitality I shared, in a bountiful dinner. Called on Esquire Harrell, who is engaged in the tanning business. I next called to see my honored friend H.T. Cox, Esq., who I was pleased to find doing a lively business in the dry goods line. He is one of our very reliable businessmen. His correct business methods have recently been fully vindicated in a suit decided in the Supreme Court. I have dealt with Mr. Cox for twenty years, and I have found him strictly correct in all his transactions. Called to see R.E. Johnston & Son, who are in the dry goods business. They are also having a good trade, and are clever gentlemen. Mr. J.B. Cummings is still at his old stand, having a fair division of business. Met Mr. J.A. Mitchell at his place of business. He keeps a good stock of work on hand, being engaged in the cabinet business--keeps on hand ready coffins at all times. In passing the new and well arranged place of Mr. H.G. Mead, in the suburbs of Louisville, I was naturally led to take a view of his new barn, which for convenience far exceeds anything I have seen in the State; it is equal to any I have seen in the Eastern States. Mr. Mead showed me a full Durham cow, for which he paid one hundred dollars. Said her calf at six months of age weighed 532 pounds. Mr. Mead's new residence is a perfect gem. In a word, his place shows enterprise. His example will be felt in the county. My next point was Middlesettlements. I dropped in to see Mr. M.B. Warren, who I found had caught some Yankey ideas, in the construction of a most neat and convenient dwelling house. The house contains 14 rooms, including the basement. Mr. Warren is a hospitable gentleman. I enjoyed his apples and watermelons. From him I gathered the following facts in regard to the old church building near his house: The old walls, which are log, were put up eighty years ago. The building has recently been remodeled and now presents a good appearance. Mr. Warren is a good farmer; he showed me a pumpkin raised on his farm that weighed 95 pounds. Reporter. At Miser's Station---This place is the home of our Representative elect, W.M. Brickell, Esq. We disagreed in our canvass, but have laid aside all wrangling and are good friends now. Squire Brickell is a good citizen and stands high in his community. The station contains 150 inhabitants, has a new school-house, the credit of which is largely due to Squire Brickell, who contributed liberally to the work. Mr. Sam Dunlap is in charge of the school taught in it, which is well attended, and the patrons are well pleased with their teacher. Through the influence of Mr. Brickell, I was able to add many new subscribers to the Index. Reporter. While at Louisville last week I called in at the store of Messrs. C.R. and A.H. Love, especially to pay my respects to my worthy friend and late competitor in the late race for legislative honors, who in that canvass won my highest esteem. Mr. C.R. Love is a true gentleman. His withdrawal from the race before the election was no sign that he is not popular; on the contrary, he is highly esteemed in his neighborhood by both Republicans and Democrats. However, he is now prepared to serve the people with new and cheap goods, at the store of the above named firm. They are both comparatively young men, but I learned they are winning laurels as businessmen. It will be to the interest of the trading community to increase their business, so as to enable Mr. C.R. Love to respond to the call of the people to represent them in some future election. Their business motto is: "Quick sales and small profits." Reporter. Wednesday, November 27, 1878 A Shooting Scrape---We learn that a sad difficulty occurred on Little River, on Monday last, between Mr. Alex Henry and his son, John, in which several shots were fired. As to the extent of the damage done, we have not yet learned. From away over the ocean come the news that Mr. and Mrs. T.T. Alexander, our missionaries to Japan, have received a little daughter into their far off home. May the little stranger live a long, happy and useful life. Little Maggie, daughter of Mr. Patrick and Bridget Cassidy, aged seven years and nine days, died on the 22nd inst. The remains were taken to Knoxville on Sunday for interment. Mr and Mrs. Cassidy return their heartfelt thanks to many citizens of Maryville and vicinity for their acts of kindness during the sickness of their child. We learn from Capt. J.W. Lackey that on Saturday last, near Col. John A. Dyer's place, below Friendsville, an affray took place between two colored men, Gov. Henderson and a man named Houston Tate. Henderson fired four shots at Tate, two of which took effect. We did not learn whether the shots will prove fatal or not. Both are said to be reckless characters. On A Visit To Texas---Yesterday morning two of our Syrian friends, Dr. A. Arbeely and his father, accompanied by Capt. Leo L. Ferrary, left Maryville on a tour through Texas. Our exhausted lands in East Tennessee naturally suggest a visit to some more fertile region, and the Lone Star State presents a variety of soil as well as of climate. If we would retain our friends we must wake up and improve our lands and homes. Mr. R.I. Wilson, who had been stricken down with paralysis more than three months ago, died at his residence at Rockford Monday afternoon, about 4 o'clock. Mr. Wilson had long occupied a prominent place among his neighbors as an energetic and successful business man, an intelligent, devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he had long been an elder, a liberal patron of education and a friend to the poor. He was a good man, and will be much missed by those who knew him. His age was 56 years. His funeral took place today at 12 o'clock, at this place. Wednesday, December 4, 1878 John Ross died on the 23rd ult., on Nine Mile Creek. The deceased, we learn, was a good member of the church. A boot-blacking match Saturday night before last between Tom McLin and Will Toole resulted in the latter's favor, though it was agreed that Tom put on the most "scientific licks." Mr. Joe Alexander, near Cloyd's Creek, in Loudon Co., is said to own the largest hog in that county. It is three years old, 6 feet 3 inches long, 3 feet 4 inches high, and weighs 1,100 lbs. gross. That is a good sized pig. Married On Horseback---We learn from A.R. James, Esq., that a novel marriage took place at Shady Grove Church last Sabbath. The parties arrived just as the congregation were dispersing, and called for the minister, Rev. G.W. Butler, who united them while on horseback, and sent them on their way rejoicing. The parties were Mr. W.T. Vanhook amd Miss. Dorcas Miser. Among our new citizens is Mr. Robert N. Jesper, a gentleman originally from England, but who has resided in Australia, California and also in Alabama. Mr. Jesper is just completing a neat, new frame house on the McGhee ferry road, about 2 miles from town, having purchased a farm there. Things about him look like enterprise, intelligence and taste, and we trust he will find a residence here pleasant and satisfactory. A Fight---H.L. Cansler and John Oliver worked each other into a passion last evening, to the extent of having a set-to. The case came before Squire Garner, who taxed Mr. Cansler $12 for thus indulging his combativeness. A Trip To The Coves---On the 15th of November, I equipped myself for the purpose of studying the geology of the "Coves" in Blount County, and set out on a trip of pleasure that I had promised myself for many years but until now was unable to enjoy. Following the Sevierville Road from Maryville to Crooked Creek and to Little River, I found the dolomite soil everywhere prevailing, except where it was covered by alluvium in the creek or river bottoms. This dolomite soil covers by far the greater part of the East Tennessee valley, and is characterized by its red color, the chert or flint gravel on its surface, its readiness to wash into gullies, and its being so well adapted to the growth of yellow pine (pinus taeda), persimmon and sassafras sprouts. Coming to the crystal waters of Little River with its pebbly bed and numerous finny inhabitants, we dismounted and proceeded to examine some specimens of our favorite study, the fresh water shells or strepomatidae, more commonly known as "periwinkle." What makes this study so interesting here, is the great number and variety of these beautiful little creatures with which the rivers and small streams of East Tennessee abound. We enjoyed riding along the smooth sandy road on the banks of the river, and listening to the ever varied and ceaseless strains of music made by the little billows in their journey to the far off sea. Coming near Henry's Mill, we noticed that the rocks, which dipped at an angle of 65 degrees to the southeast, now suddenly changed to a vertical position, and the dolomite gave way to the marble. Here were the unmistakable evidence of a break in the earth's crust, known as a "fault" in geology, forming those red knobs along the base of the Chilhowee. The rough marble in these red knobs contains innumerable small shells, composed principally of phosphate and carbonate of lime, which by the constant rains is set free and made to fertilize the soil. Here the sedge will more readily give way to the more domestic grasses, while the greatest variety of timber found in any soil is found in this formation. It is the favorite soil of the buckeye, cucumber tree, butternut and poplar, and will produce nearly every other kind. We found forty-seven different sorts of trees on this soil on one farm. Passing up the stream we soon came to the well known Chilhowee shale and sandstone, but we were tempted to dismount about every quarter of a mile and inspect the denizens of the river, and were well rewarded by several new and beautiful specimens. After passing through the Chilhowee Mountain, we entered Miller's Cove, a little valley formed by the breaking of the earth's crust and letting down all the formations, and the subsequent washing away by the streams, everything down to the dolomite, which may be seen in huge masses above what is called "the dangerous ford"; some of which forms beautiful agate. Leaving Miller's Cove, we again wind along the banks of the river, which in its effort to break through the opposing mountain, turns toward every point of the compass. The scenery between Miller's Cove and Tuckaleechee is rugged and romantic. Leaving this, you suddenly come in sight of a very respectable valley, twelve miles long and from one to three miles wide, lying at the base of the old "Smoky" and Thunder Head, like some giant guardian, watching over the protégé at its feet. Beautiful "bottoms" of the richest soil lie along the banks of the river, while the upland is naturally good, being improved by a very pure kind of limestone. As night was coming on, we accepted the generous hospitality of Col. Tipton, and enjoyed the kindness of his estimable wife and the society of his two talented daughters. At night we joined the people of this place in worship at the chapel nearby and on the next day, being Sabbath, we tried to preach to the people both morning and night and also address the children in the Sabbath School. Here we met some of our old friends, among whom was Dr. Gillespy. On the following morning, in company with Col. Tipton, we set out in a further inspection of this Cove, and on our way "took in" the schools of Mr. Waters and Rev. J. Brickey, and were delighted with the intelligent faces of the pupils and the interest manifested by the people in building good schools. Mr. Brickey is a successful teacher and deservedly popular as such. Leaving Tuckaleechee, we set out on an eight mile journey across the mountain into Cades Cove. Going up the side of the mountain we found all the rocks limestone to the very top, making the soil exceedingly rich and the growth of timber and shrubbery luxuriant. Here may be seen many interesting facts to the geologist, which we will not stop to describe. After reaching the top of the first mountain, the road winds around peaks and through dells watered by purling streams. There is nothing so remarkable along this route as the old shafts sunk by Mr. Cresswell, who afterward discovered the Ducktown Copper Mines. What is remarkable hereis, that instead of being guided by the light of science, this gentleman should allow himself to be guided by a magic wand, and dig for silver into a formation which is as innocent of that metal as in an ordinary mush pot. Having passed over this rugged part of our journey, we came in sight of that lovely little valley called Cades Cove, six miles in length and from one to two miles wide, and watered by Abraham's Creek. There is no finer land in the county than in this Cove, nor any section better adapted to stock raising. Here the apple and the peach reach a high degree of perfection and seldom fail. Here also we found the peculiar limestone discovered in Tuckaleechee. From this Cove we wended our way homeward, over what is called the "flat of the mountain," lying between the Coves and Chilhowee. This flat is an elevated plateau, very irregular, and covers about seventy-five square miles of surface. There are numerous little streams between steep hills, making it an excellent pasture for sheep, as there is considerable grass here in summer. In the highest streams I found the beautiful little shellfish goniobasisaterina; that in their slow pace seemed to have crawled all the way up from Abram's Creek. Although the season for the botanist was over, yet I was much surprised to find in several places some flowers resembling the lythraceae in full bloom, while all around had yielded to the destroying hand of frost. S.Z. Sharp