The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-07-16
Lige Simmons, of SImlxum.
BY A "GENT AT LARGE"


Sinkum is a part and parcel of the great
State of Mississippi with about forty-five free
and indispensable voters, and can hold more Ii
quor ''cordin to size," than fairy nother' pre-
cinct around.
You need not look on the map for Snkum, it
amt thar. The only mention made of it, you
will find in the notebook of that celebrated
old gad-about Madam Pfeiher, who has been
around the world several tunes, or more. She
does it up with this single comment; "darn the
Iplace;" which iorcible expression clearly defines
her position among the proiane writers.
The productions of Sinkum are pine knots,
possum hunts "somo punlins;" chief amuse-
ments are barbacues, frolics, free fights, and any
quantity of mean whisl1ey.
She holds the balance of power in the county
elections, and always casts her vote for the par
ty who dances the best reel, stands the biggest
treat, and carries the most ''rot-gut' without
staggering.
Although part of slave state, yet Slavery
was abolished years since in that section, by the
sheriff, who sold out the last darkey in that
whole kedntry. SinlIum has its hero, and
'Lige Simmons is the lucky man. If there is
to be camp meeting, quilting, or spree of any
kind, 'Lige Simmons must be consulted. He is
the champion, oracle and bell-wether of Snkum;
and as he goes, the rest follow unanimously
men, women and children. Whether it is q
irolic or fight, 'Lge is always counted IN
'Lige Simmons stands six feet two, outside of
his boots, with the shoulders of Sampson and
knuckles that can batter sledge hammer
His fingers close down with the clamp of a
vice, and "bar hug" is fun compared with his
undcrhold in tussle
lie amt a beauty to look at that's fact;
but he's the favorito Of all the women; for with
them pluck and patronage will tell
remember well the first time ever heard
Of Lige Simmons.
One cold and clustering day in December a
few years Since, several of us were seated
around roaring stove, iii the reception room
Of the Louisville Hotel Whether caused by
the genial warmth of the stove, or the bar
mans ''smaShes," we had grown exceedingly
communicative; and although strangers very
soon each one knew the others name business
and habltation In the crowd was a powerful
man. his face tanned by exposure, and marked
with many scars. He gave his name as Fulton
of Bar Grass" and he had run the river from
Orleans to Loui'vle for the last thirty years.
was equally at home on steamer a raft or
broad-horn, and knew every bar and bend on the
MissisSip', as well as he knew the streets of the
city.
When Fulton heard me say that l was from
MudviLe, he exclaimed-'fWell, stranger, de-
clar you're mighty peacible lookin feller, to
hail from such place as Mudyille. Let me see
-yesit wur four years ago cumin' spring, that
me and Ben Horton wur runnin' the Little
Pike fiat, loaden with prtjuce, and tradin'
along the coast. One night, when the fog wur
as thick as the fur on a cats back we drfted
ptrty close to house, where they wur fddlin',
dancin' and drinking like fury; After foatin'
along about an hour, we passed another house,
where they were frolickin' like the devil, and
after while we passed another; and so on, ev-
cry hour or so, we would pass a house where
they seemed to be carrying on in high STYLE
And what seemed the curiousest thing in every
house they had niger feller playin the same
chune. AT last, sez Ben to me- 'an't these the
6eatenest folks, along here on this coast for
rockin' you ever saw; | st wish [ was
ashore a little while, to give em a Kentucky
touch.' And then Ben began dancin away on
the top of the flat, for tell you stranger next
to snowy horse, fiddlers the thing to reach
kentuck's finer teelins'.
"Well, when we found ourselves next NOR
MIN I'll just be dod busted if we hadn't been
travelin round the fog, in one big eddy, all
night; and you see, all them houses where thew
had been frolicEin', was the same house that
we would pass by once in while. | tell Won
me and Ben wur mad enough; but as there was
small town close by, we concluded to run
ashore and try the chance for tradin'. Just as
we tied up and moved out plank, down comes
a parcel of fellers to inspect u.s. Among them
were one TREMENDOUS big leller, and l saw, from
the signs hung out that he had been on bust
all night
"'Whoopee' he holered, jumping up and
cracking his heels together, here's 'Lige Sim
mons, all the way from Sinkum just bring out
your wild cats, if you want 'em chawed up.-
Pm smashing tornado in tussle, with the
scream of steam engine, the grip of he-griz
zly and the boss power of four biler boat
Whar's the man that can stand before me?,
Il knowd it wur challenge and | tell YOU
it riled me pretty considerably
thinks to myself we'll try your grit before
we leave this place. After while, I goes IN
in town, leavin' Ben in charge of the boat; and
after cruison' around a little, | sees pigeon
hole cut in the side of a house, and over the
hole in big writin', Blind Tiger, ten cents a
sight walks straight up, and peepin' in,
sees teller standin inside, strrin somethin
with stick. Immediately recognized f. !
familiar kinder managery smell about the place.
Hello there, you mister Snowman says to
the teller inside, here's your ten cents, walk
out your wild cat Stranger, instead of show |
in me wild vermint without eyes, I'll be dod
busted if he did mt shove out a glass Of whiskey
"You sec that blind Tiger was an arrange
ment got up to evade the law, which won't let
EN- Sell Ticker there except by the gallon. Iti
useless to say that my visits were numerous to
that animal what couldn't see After a while,
| happened along Mhnre ,Iira Simmons hnd I