"The Free Lance" Issue April 15, 1904 THROWN FROM BUGGY Union, April 14, T. K. PALMER was driving a spirited horse up Main street this morning when it became frightened and threw him out the buggy against the sidewalk, bruising his head fracturing a rib and knocked him unconscious for 20 minutes. [more] Issue May 13, 1904 Not Terrified by Highwaymen Buffalo-Armed and masked highwaymen have no terrors for Mrs. M. A. HALL of Niagra Street, North Tonawanda, when she is driving behind a horse. Mrs. HALL and her sister were driving from Buffalo to their home, and were nearing the city line at Kenmore at 9:45 o'clock last night when they were confronted by five masked highwaymen armed with revolvers. Two of the highwaymen were in a wagon which partly blocked the road. The other three were in the roadway. Mrs. HALL was driving slowly, and was almost abreast of the wagon when she saw the gleam of the revolvers under an electric light and heard the command to throw up her hands. Instead of doing so Mrs. HALL jerked the horse to one side and plied the whip. The spirited animal gave a mad plunge, grazed the wagon and toppled the three highwaymen who were in the road into the gutter. The highwaymen fired half a dozen shots at the women, but none took effect. The two women drove at a gallop to Kenmore, where they got aid and returned to the scene of the attempted robbery, but the highwaymen had escaped in their wagon through unlighted crossroads. [cut off] Issue May 27, 1904 Origin of Marriage Custom "Casting a shoe after a newly married couple is one of the oldest customs that still clings on the fabric of this up to date life." Centuries ago, nay, thousands of years ago, it was one of the means employed by the people of antiquity to indicate ownership. When a piece of land was purchased or given to one, or a man acquired ownership of a house, a cow or tidbit unto himself, a wife, it was the established custom to cast a shoe over the land, the building, the animal or the woman, thus asserting to the world that he had acquired rights of ownership. The custom is mentioned in several places in the Bible. Psalms IX, 8. . . Few who do it probably know why they cast a shoe after newly married, but in this ancient custom is its origin found. So does a relic of barbarism linger in our midst. {This is a lot different meaning than when married couples throw shoes now! Any spring weddings coming up? : } Issue: June 3, 1904 ROBBED AND BURNED Union, May 27 -This morning the residents of Santuc were awakened from their slumbers by a series of explosions coming from the direction of the Southern depot. . . .lead to the theory that the depot had been robbed and set fire to cover up the crime. [more] "The Free Lance" Issue June 10, 1904 BUFFALO GLEANINGS: -David RHODEN of Laurens arrived here Saturday and took charge of the cloth room. He succeeds A. N. VISE, who resigned a few days ago to accept a position with the Union Grocery Co. -L. J. GAULT of Kelton was here Friday visiting his son, J. L. GAULT. -Mrs. J.N. ROBERSON and Miss Virgina GALLERCHAT returned Saturday from a weeks visit with Mrs. Dr. Clarage JOHNSON of Cross Keys. -Mrs. W. F. DOGGETT returned home from a weeks visit in the country. -J. Broadus WILLIAMS of Union was here yesterday. -W. F. BATES of Carlisle was here Monday. -Rufus WILLIAMS of Converse is visiting Mrs. Covie NANCE. -The popular and jovial Paul HUNTLEY of Union spent last night in town the guest of Solomon GREER. -Rev. L.E. WIGGINS preached to a large congregation at the Methodist Church Sunday morning and Rev. W. E. HUMPHRIES filled his appointment at the Baptist Church at night. -Bud JOHNSON returned home last night from Greenville. -A stranger is stopping at the hotel Buffalo; he came to spend awhile with Mr. and Mrs. C. A. GREER. -J. L. GAULT spent Sunday with her brother, Vernon GAULT at Union. -The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Clide BRIGGS is quite sick. -Mrs. L. A. SULLIVAN spent Sunday last at Aetna Mill. -Mrs. T. G. McHUGH spent yesterday in Union with her mother, Mrs. MANGUM, proprietress of the MANGUM House. -Oscar Brown is visiting relatives at Pacolet this week. Free Post Lisa