Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-14
From the Mississippi Free Trader.
SUMNER SCRIBBLINGS-No. II
GCHOCGHUMA."

Some few years since, business
called us to Tallahatchie county where
we were detained for few weeks; the
time, however, hung not heavily on
our hands, and we are blessed with
that happy faculty of accommodating
ourselves to circumstances, and gath
eriDg some slight ray Of enjoyment
from every scene Of life. During our
wanderings through the wild dim goods
bordering the Yallobusha river, we
found ourselves unexpectedly in the
immediate vicinity of the village of
Chocchuma,a place ofno slight renown
during the rage of the land fever '33
to Scat which time it was a crow
ded mart, the seat and centre of bus
mess extended far and wide through
the then new found EL Dorado of Mis-
sissippi a population Of several hun
dreds, the seat Of land Office. the To-
cation Of several large New York hou-
ses' 'twere by no means wondrous
quite busy busting place, bidding
fair to be the abiding emporium of that
rich district of country: so twas
thought, and told US by some Of the
dreamers who the ":hc teUer or"
At the time Of our visit in 80, we
found it located on a bluff which jut-
ted boldly into the Yallobusha, over
which the cliffs hung, clothed with a
thousand shrubs and vines; giving il
an appearance Of romantic beauty.
The stream is about twenty yards
wide, and winds along gently beneath,
the perfect semblance of placidity,
The town contains about thirty hou-
ses, all of which are miserable con-
structed log cabins, with the exception
of large frame building, which look
ed quite out Of place amongst the
more humber tenements surrounding
it. Twas one of the Uncle Sans
specul0tiOns, and cost him some thirty
FIVE thousand dollars. Only four oil
FIVE OF the whole number Of houses
were occupied, and the few which
were so, presented fewer signs Of life
than any graveyard we have ever ga
zed on. We caught hurried glimpse
Of one of the damosels of the village,
two men,on negro, three children anG
a couple of herses-the lady was pre-
badly the belle, the men eVidentIy'loa-
terJ'-the negro, lame-aad'the chill
dren, palIid and sickIy looking Nc
other signs of fife were seen by US du'
ring our stay ia this dwelling, place O.
desolation-no ray Of cheerfulness is
seen TO smile around ii, for it appears
the perfect personi6cation ofthe mos
complete and distressing deserted
ness.
Three chimneys alone sent theiI
curling currents to the skies, and 40
the growing Of a single cock, nor TIT
lowing of a single cow, nor the bark
ing Of a single cur, heard we here
Observation-Disclosures! seemed
stamped on ali around US, and the di
lapidated state Of the "town WE'LL
situated on the second principal street
was well calculated % awaken the mos
melancholy reflections; and the ruin
of the town Grocery" now maulder
ing in the dust, remained the mlsera
bic memento Of many one .Hho foun
this, to them the gate to ruin. w
stumbled over the old door, and @
turning it over, found long and length
ened lines ofs'chalk Scores" the rou
ming accounts doubtless Of many, VIII
then and there made their last run.
The main street is some three hur
dred yards in length and fringed o
either side with a beautiful growth I
/ sycamores-but no busy hum OF me
Fl is heard, mo sound ofindustry, no not