Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-05-21

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bear" In person he was tall, lank
fever and-ague-stricken specimen of hu
manity, with unkempt, towy hair, and ;
most prodigious beard, which looked a
if it might have been permitted to grow
from the dae of its first appearance; h
had moreover, keen eyes, deeply sunk
en-, and as restless as an Indians; ado
sharply cut features, a low, recedins
forehead, and a sensual mouth, and yol
will have the portrait of one of the wors
men who ever made laws to suit himself
upon the Arkansas frontier.
As for his dress, if you be curious il
externals, imagine coonskin cap worr
nearly upon the back of the head. q
loose tobacco stained overcoat, much tht
worse for wear, in whose side pocket The
butt of horse pistol was distinctly visi
bic, pair of mud soiled pants with rid
ing feathers, anC buffalo overshoes, anC
you have completed an inventory of gar
ments which argued quite as unfavorably
for their wearer as did the reckless, dis
sipated expression of the man himself
In fact, to sum up Mr.. Jake Chowler, Oh
as he preferred calling himself, Pine
Knot Jake, in the fewest possible words
he was the terror of the country round
for with him to Jump a man up" Will
reason or without reason, for it mattered
little as 10 the amount of provoeatior
with Jake, was good sport" and to hin
afterwards the consummation of rather
amusing affair.
With so peace-breaking disposition,
1t is hardly to be wondered at, the
"Pine Knot Chowler" should have made
mental note of our young officer:
quiet entry into the cabin where at thai
particular moment, Mr.. Chowler was
enjoying himself, by in-ulging in the in,
nocent relaxation of alternate whiskey
drinking. gambling. and dancing, or as
the individual III question termed il
"breakin' down." for there was white
headed old darkey present who was aid
ing the revel by the execution of
''That good old time"
which he rattled off upon his violin with
facility of execution which betokened
practiced hand.
In the meantime, our Lieutenant, who
was still suffering from the effects of a
recent illness, had taken an out-of. the
way seat near the stove where lie eyinc-
ed a..strong disposition to avoid any inter
course with the Borders. L may be loo
that the young man laid himself open to
the charge of f"putting on airs" by neg
lecting upon his entrance, to salute the
company either by the customary ''good
evening, gentlemen" or the yet more
Westsrn polite greeting of asking "tbe
crowd to STEP up and liquor" at his ex-
pense.
None of which, as we have already in
timated, had escaped the keen eye of
Mr.. Jake Chowler. "He didn't like it.
He allowed that thar dog COINED city
raised thing in thar brass buttons, war a
putin on mighty high falutin' ways, an
crowding' thar boys heap"
But Piue Knot Jake was not the man
to confne his indignation to mere words!
and after "standin' it," as he said, sun-
til human couldn't bar it no longer"
he walked up to the stranger, and the
following dialogue ensued:
Chowler-At the same time slapping
the Lieutenant familiarity upon the
back, Step up, hoss, an liquor.
Lieulenant.--I thank you, sir, but 1
don't feel like drinking.
Chowlcr.-Yes, yeou do; so Jest step
up stranger, an kinder move yourself
too; don't yeou see that thar crowd air
a waitin''?
Lieutenant.-But 1 don't wish to drink,
sir.
Chowler.-I don't kear eff you don't,
l want you to drink with me. Ny name
air Jake Chowler! Pine Knot Jake they
call me whar l come from, all on account
of my bein' SO dreadful easy to whip
VIII you drink with me now?
Lieutenant.-No, sir.
Chowler.-Ef yeour goin' to crowd
a man that thar way, 1 just tell you,
stranger that yeou shall drink with me.
Lieutenant.-and l tell you, sir, will
not,
Chowler.-Wall, stranger, eff you will
hev it so-here Mr.. Chowler drew a
horse-pistol, which he cooked and point
ed at the Lieutenant's head-I'll Jest let
yeou know, that eff yeou don't take a
drink with This hyar child, and be right
sudden a doin' it, III raise the top off
your head, with this hyar tool, and if
hat don't settle yeou, 1 allow to gather
7eou by your har, an shake yeou till
your dog-gonned toe mails drop off.
Upon receiving this mild intimation, a
,lose observer might have noticed the
sudden change that passed like cloud
over the young soldiers face;
IOr his eye flashed, the lip was compress
I'd and the thin nostrils dilated; but these