Aug. 29, 1901… A hundred years ago this week (Aug. 1801), one of the most remarkable meetings that ever occurred in the United States took place at Cane Ridge in Bourbon County. It was conducted by the Rev. Barton W. Stone, then a Presbyterian minister, and others. At this meeting, many had what was then known as the ‘’jerks.’’ They would be seized with violent convulsions, jerk backward and forward as though they would dislocate their necks, the women’s hair would crack like a whiplash; men would fall in a cataleptic trance that would last for days and their bodies would become rigid like modern hypnotist subjects. Others would be seized with the “barks.” They would grasp a tree or sapling and stand for hours barking up the tree, like a dog after a squirrel. Many other strange manifestations were recorded. Scientific men from abroad visited the meeting to try to account for the wonderful phenomena. The meeting house where it originated is still standing, but soon became too small for the crowds, which came even from adjoining states. It was estimated that as high as 20,000 people were on the grounds at one time. The meeting lasted one week, the people in attendance camping in the woods nearby. Sometimes there would be five or six preachers preaching at the same time in different parts of the grounds. According to the Paris Kentuckian, the members at Cane Ridge are arranging to celebrate the event next week. Of 400 schoolteachers recruited from all parts of the country for service in the Philippines and who had never met before boarding the transport, 60 succumbed to the wiles of Cupid in the first few days out, and at Honolulu one clergyman officiated at 30 marriage ceremonies. Senator Blackburn, the noted saddle and harness horse that took the premium at the World’s Fair in 1893 in a ring of 140 of America’s best saddlers, sold in Nicholasville Monday for $27. Senator Blackburn, who is now 20 years old, sold at one time for $1,500. One of his colts brought $1,800 and others at $1,000. He was raised in Montgomery County, and when brought to Jessamine eight years ago by Dr. J.C. Miller, was one of the best roadsters in Central Kentucky. (From Jessamine Journal.) This locality was visited by the hardest rain in months last Monday. From the cry of not enough rain, heard a few weeks since, the tune has been changed to too much rain. Macklin Cooney, a young white man whose home is in Lexington, was arrested Monday and charged with detaining and attempting to assault Mary Emma Hays, the 12-year-old daughter of Magistrate James C. Hayes, at the home of the latter, two miles from Versailles on the Mt. Vernon Turnpike. Cooney is employed by a construction company and has been engaged in putting up the wires of the Fayette Home Telephone Co. in and about Versailles. He was at work Monday at the residence of Mr. Hayes putting in a telephone box, Mr. Hayes is a widower, and when he leaves home entrusts his daughter to the care of some faithful servants. He had just left his home to come to Versailles when Cooney approached the child, telling her that her father wanted her to get him (Cooney) a bolt from the tool house with which to fasten the telephone. The tool house is in the yard, some distance from the dwelling. When Mary Hayes stepped inside the outhouse, Cooney, it is claimed, followed her and closed and fastened the door. He then began to make indecent proposals to her, it is alleged. The child was overcome with fright and begged Cooney to let her out of the room. Finally, her cries were heard by some hands working in an adjoining field and when they ran toward the tool house, Cooney heard them and made his escape. He first ran to his buggy, that was in waiting, and drove rapidly down the road, afterward leaving the vehicle and disappearing into a thicket. The alarm was given, and Sheriff Wilhoit and a posse of citizens started for the scene. In the meantime, the news spread through the Court Day crowd in Versailles. When the sheriff appeared with Cooney on the street at 3 p.m. having arrested him on the Hayes farm, an excited and angry crowd gathered and followed them to the jail. Cries of “hang him” were freely heard and at one time it seemed as if Cooney would be taken from the officers. He was finally landed in a cell and after considerable persuasion on the part of cool-headed citizens, the greater part of the mob was dispersed within an hour. Later he was taken to Lexington for safekeeping. Cooney is apparently about 22 years old, though he gives his age as 17. He denies any criminal intent. Another version of this story spells the name Hays, says Cooney is 16 and that Mary Hays is only 9. (From Courier-Journal) August 31, 1922… Midway was painfully shocked Friday afternoon when the news spread that George Theodore McKinney Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. G.T. McKinney of Railroad Avenue, had been accidentally electrocuted. The father is manager of the Fayette Home Telephone Co. and the son had been helping him during the summer vacation. Young McKinney, at 3.25 p.m. and following a violent rainstorm, ascended a pole behind the S.C. Reid drugstore. He had with him a bunch of wire and the pole was wet and the air full of electricity. Suddenly, McKinney fell about 20 feet into a ditch. Henry Shipp, L&N Depot employee, ran to his assistance as did Raymond Colston, McKinney was still breathing when Shipp, Dr. Voight, G.W. See and Henry Portwood carried him to Reid’s drugstore. McKinney was a high school senior and a boy scout. Pallbearers were Claude Lynn, Jim Parrish, Wade Littrell, Roger Kearney, Alfred Pottwood and Roland Faust. Four ministers participated in the ceremonies. Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Floyd of Versailles were rejoicing over the birth of a fine son born Wednesday. During the past week there have been four splendid rains, which have broken the draught, revived gardens and cooled the intense heat delightfully. In Versailles, the cupola atop Dr. John D. Neet’s residence on Main Street was smashed but the house was not set afire. A big locust tree was hit near the high school buildings and burned to the ground. Considerable excitement was created Saturday night in Versailles when three bombs were exploded at intervals of five minutes, out on the Clifton Pike. It was at first thought to be an attempt to blow up the trestle, but it was later found to be a ceremonial of the Ku Klux Klan. It included the burning of a cross and a bomb explosion for each 100 members, there being 300 members. Certain citizens have organized and opened a Colored Hospital in the U.B.F. Building on South Main Street in Versailles. It is under the management of Miss Kittie Baird, county nurse, backed by the physicians, white and colored. It is capable of taking care of 22 patients. Friday afternoon the operating table and room, fully fitted up, served as 20 patients were operated upon for tonsils and adenoids by Dr. Deweese, Dr. McLean, Dr. Lane, and Dr. Cooley, all of Lexington, and Dr. Blackburn and Dr. Alexander of Versailles, and Dr. H.P. Taylor, colored, also of Versailles.