Washington telegraph., 1850-01-16
A GOOD STORY.


known in Alabama. He was testy and
eccentric, l,e possessed many fine quail
ties which were fully appreciated by the
people of his district. Many OF his freaks
are still fresh in the memory of the -old
uns' of Mobile and all of them will tell
you that the ColoDel, though hard to beat,
was once terribly taken in by couple of
legal tyros. 1t is George Woodward,
believe. that tells the story but, however,
that may be, it is in keeping with others
related of the old gentleman.
1t seems that Col. ID. had misunder-
standing with ttetwo gentlemen alluded
to, and was not on speaking terms with
them, although all of the three were pro-
fessionaly riding the circuit pretty much
together. The young ones being well
aware of the Colonel's irascible nature
determined as they left one OF the courts
for another, to have some sport at his
| expense, by the way. They accordingly
got about half hours start in leaving and
presently they arrived at broad, dark
stream that looked as ifit might be a doz-
en- feet deep. but which in reality, was
hardly more than as many inches Cros-
| sing it, they alighted, pulled off their coats
aud boots, and set down quickly to watch
for Old Tartar
jogging along, at length, up came the
old fellow He looked first at the Young
sters who were gravely drawing on their
boots and coats, as if they had just had
swim; aud then lac looked at the broad
creek that rolled before him like fluent
roJ1 -
ly puzzled.
as this id creek swimming?" he
growIed, after pause of some moments.
No reply was made, the young men
simply mounted their horses and rode
some little distance, and stopped to watch
our hero.
The Colonel slowly divested himself
fhis boots, coat, pantaoons and drawers.
These he neatly tied up in his silk hand
kerchief, and hung them on the horn Of
his saddle. Then he remounted, and as
he was a fat, short man with paunch of
inordinate size. rather inadequate legs,
face like wilhered apple, and a brown
wig, there is no doubt he made an inter
esting picture as he then bestrode his
steed, with the 'breezes holding gentle
dalliance" with the extremities of his on
iy garment.
Slowly and cautiously did the old gen.
tleman and his horse enter the creek
half length-aud the water was not
fetlock deep Here the horse stopped
to drink. A length and haf-and the
stream no deeper! Thirty feet farther
and decided Shading.
Here the Colonel reined up. "There
must, he said, ''be hell ola swift. deep
channel between this aud the bank-see
how the water runs-we'll II dash through
A sharp lash made his horse spring half
over the "wattery waste another car
ried horse and rider safely on the oppo-
site bank The creek was no more than
a foot deep.
Il wild yell from the young 'uns an
nounced their appreciation of the sport,
as they galoped away.
"l'll catch you damned rascals,' was
ground out between Col. DIS teeth; and
away lie galloped in hot pursuit. multer-
lug dreadful vengeance Oh his fugitive
foes.
On-on-they sped. "purSuer and pur-
screamed-the Colonel damned with en-
phasis, while his shirt huttered and crack
ed in the wind, like loose flying glib.
On.-On.-and the pursued reached
a farm house on the road side. Their
passing startled flock of geese from
fence corner, which as the Colonel dash
ed up, met him with outspread wings,
concaved neck, and misses dire. His
horse swerved suddenly, aud the Colonel
most unromantic heap with his wig.
and his bundle of clothes scattered around.
The while-headed children of the house
came out first, took a distant view OF the
monster--as it seemed to them-and
then returned to report the progress Al
ter little the father of the family came
out, and the affair was explained, assisted
Col. D. in making up his toilet the Col
swearing, and the countryman laughing
all the while.
Dressed and remounted, our hero start
ed off with woful phiz, but before he
had got hundred yards, he was called
back by the countryman.
"Heres something you've dropped,
said the man, handing the Colonel his
brown wig.
"Ah yes, growleG d., "another item
in the res jesta of this infamous affair
whats that you call lt-reS 1estSy
That's queer name to me. what 10
you do with it!'
My friend, it is one of a set OF clrcum-
stances all relating to the same internal
rascally trick.
"You don't take my meanm-l list
want to know what's the name OF that
hairy thing in your hand. that thought
you said was res 1eSty