The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-04-18
8 From the N. o. Picayune.
4 Regular Screamer. Sc.
East FELIciANA, March %, 1851

Eds. PacdyHne--i have Just returned home
from visit among our friends OF the Western
parishes. lpsssed through Natchez, and paid
my respects TO some os the "purtiest" women in
all creation. | crossed over to VidaIia, and
passed ont to Lake Concordia This, as you
well know, is one os the most lovely sheets of
water in the South, and at this time is covered
with water fowl.
There are some of the best regulated planta-
ions here in the State, albeit that lands are fast
wearing out by the ruinous system of cultivation
heretofore practised, but now giving way TO
more scientific culture. From Mr.. Dayiss place
turned out and crossed the Tensas swamp
This is a rich tract of alluvial deposit. which.
when the Mississippi gets high, overfows and
is often ten feet under water This swamp
is intersected by numerous bayous, which are
fnll OF quicksand and very dangerous TO cross.
There is a very toerabe causeway over por
lion of it. II is some six miles wide, and you
then strike the Tensas river. This is a very
pretty stream and navigable considerable dis
tance. | noticed here number OF singular
mounds, of some thirty to sixty feet in height.
crossed this river and found myself soon after
in the parish Of Catahoua. Tie lower srensas
swamp, which extends eight miles to the high
land, is beyond description. Il is a perfect
"sloagh Of despond." black morass, with not a
living thing in it; not blade OF grass; or creep.
ing plant, or single grepnleaf, 10 rplepe thu mo.
notony of the fnneral,lke mass waving pail like
in the wind. Not chirp from some wandering
bird, the tinklIng Of sheep bell, the lowing Of
grazing herd, or the cheerful bark OF some
honest watch dog The water line is from
twelve TO sixteen feet on the trees. After pass
ing the swamp, which. is deep aluvial deposit.
You arrive suddenly at the highlands, called
"Sicily Island" and indeed it is no bad repre-.
sentaton OF an island. rising suddenly as il does
from tfe dead level of the swamp. This high
land extends, without intermssion, TO the Qua
chta river, where the land begins to descend
again. This tract is covered with oak, hickory
and pine. The people are generally hospitable,
but not very far advanced in the arts and scien.
ces. As may be growing tedious, will close
with an anecdote.
Some years ago, before steamboats, ever ran
up into Lake Louis, which is lake running up
from the river into the island there lived up in
the woods man who went by The name Of
:" Screaming Harry" He was hunter and
could boast OF two things: one that he was never
known TO miss his aim, and the other was that
he could out srcedm any man in Catahuula. The
latter qualification he was very proud OF, and
used TO often give specimens Of his proficiency.
Once, however, he was informed that there was
man who lived up on The other side of Har-
risonbnrg, who could out scream him. This set
Flarry's pride ON fire, and he sent all sorts OF
challenges TO the other to come and scream
'agin" him. He grew restless and uneasy, re.
fused his food, and talked Of nothing but meeting
the other screamer in order to blast his prospects
and humble his PRIDE
The other screamer heard Of Harry, and sent
word that he would meet him. Therenpon
Harry set To work sucking raw eggs and doing
every thing 10 improve his vocal powers. One
night, when Harry was at his best there was a
tremendous fog He had gone TO bed and was
sweetly dreaming, when suddenly an awful noise
(such alone as Seam.lchistle can make) was
heard for miles around, sounding from .he lake.
The noise reached the sleeping hero Up he
sprung. "That's he! that's he' exclaimed
Harry, as he rushed for the 9nur and broke for
the lake. "Wcll he can screech sum" said be,
as he panfing reached the shore. The fog was
thick but Harry Needed it not The steamer,
lost in the gloom, rung her bell, and her wheels
made the place echo, but Harry was dead To all
sounds but thai scream. 1t had arousedthe man,
and he felt certain It was the screanaer come to
sound rang out again on the night air; loud and
long its tones were echoed. Harry braced him
SELF up. He felt that The hour was come, and
he was thar As the sound died away Harry
drew long breath and opened. Shrilly and
wildly did he pour forth the volume Of his song.
and when almost ''done up he ceased. Again
was heard The defiant whistle: longer and louder
It again poured ont its breath of steam Again
poor Harry raised his valve, bnt it was no go;
but louder and louder screamed he. Drops Of
agony stood on his brow as the steam-whistIe
again was heard. One last and long shrek from
Harry, and he fell to rise no more. Poor Harry!
he died game; he ruptured an artery and was
dead; bnt he could not match the steam whistle
Harry's screams bad been guide for the boat,
which reached The shore, but the golden thread
Of life had ere then been broken
Verdct-'tDied Of steam. whistle"
Yonrs, e., WILDWOOD