The et cetera chronicles – vol. 119: Wilkinson edition

THEY WERE WRONG – It has been said for many, many years that lightning does not strike in the same place twice.  Well, they were wrong. The Toomsboro High School was struck by lightning near the end of World War II. The revered building burned to the ground. The community immediately rebuilt the school as a symbol of the resiliency of the town. In January 1947, another bolt of lightning hit the school, which suffered substantial damage, much to the joy of several apathetic students. Middleton, N.J., Times, Jan. 16, 1947.

AH! THAT’S BETTER!  – Messers Hiram Larnsey and Mr. Friese were figuring out how to move a large hollowed-out log on the outskirts of Irwinton. They attached chains to the old, dead tree and a team of mules on the other end.  The hennies pulled the chains taught. Larnsey and Friese popped the whip to encourage their mules to pull. Well, the mules pulled, and they pulled. The log did not budge.  The two unhooked the chains to make a closer investigation.  Inside the puzzled duo found 11 snakes, which were summarily executed. Once the void was opened and the mules hooked up, the mission was easily accomplished.  The Daily Republican, Anthony, Kansas, April 18, 1889.

HONEY  I’M HOME – W.C. Horn served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, which was called “The Late Great Unpleasantness” by the grand, socially prominent ladies of the South.” Horn joined the Carswell Guards, Third Georgia Infantry Regiment, a company based out of Wilkinson County, in the spring of 1861. During the horrific Battle of Gettysburg in the first three days of July 1863, word was sent out that Horn was killed in action. The 3rd Georgia was heavily engaged late on the afternoon of July 2nd, when a few  Confederate brigades breached the strong point in the center of the Union line at the “Angle” on Cemetery Ridge. Horn’s family was shocked and went into mourning. Turns out that during the retreat to the southwest after the battle, Horn argued with his captain.  Horn had had enough of the slaughter and bugged out of the column and returned to Gettysburg to turn himself in.  Horn became a vagabond wandering around the country.  In the Indian Territory, Horn was told that his wife was still alive and asking about him. The stranger told Horn that his daughter was grown and married to J.S. Brady.  Months later, Horn, heavily bearded and stooped over, walked into his home in Toomsboro and surprised his wife, who thought she had seen a ghost and collapsed on the floor. Coincidentally, the story was published in newspapers around the country the day before General Lee surrendered to General Grant in Appomattox Court House, Virginia, the next day.  Kansas Kritic, April 8,1865.

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SNAKE IN A BOTTLE – B.H. Freeman, a resident of Toomsboro, Georgia, fell into an unbridled curiosity. Freeman encountered your average fanged,  man-killing water moccasin during the peak of “Dog Days.”  He thought about what might happen if he took the reptile and placed it in a suitably sized bottle and left it there. For two years, the serpent was squeezed in a cylindrical glass tomb with no food or drink.  Much to his Freeman’s astonishment, the snake was still alive and in fact had gained weight. Yazoo City Herald, Aug. 30, 1895. 

THE YANKEES IN ATLANTA STOLE OUR SODA FOUNTAIN – The World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta has a grand, ancient soda fountain. Somehow, the soft drink king acquired their magnificent 19th-century soda fountain from the drug store in Toomsboro, Georgia.  Port Charlotte, FL Sun, May 5, 2007.

IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?  – Mr. L.T. Mercer, of Irwinton, Georgia, was right proud of his dog. One day, the dog was out playing in Mercer’s field. The hound discovered a snake, which he took to be a new playmate. The curious pup barked and barked until he grew tired of the snake, which was in no mood to have fun.  As soon as the dog retreated, the venomous reptile sprang forward and speared the dog between the eyes. The dog squalled and wailed until he alerted Mercer, who came running with his gun.  When Mr. Mercer saw his friend’s predicament, he shot the attacker with full and deadly force. The master scooped up his pet and ran to the house, where he doused the injured creature with alum water, which appeared to rid the rascally dog of the poison almost instantly. Parsons, Kansas Daily Sun, Nov. 18, 1893.