The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-25

stfFt rNIAE LII sfA = 49,
=EDrToKs JoURNAI: Old Boreds ha
fairly inauguratcd his season 5 revel
ry In q regular " Norwester.n4 Slee
and snow are hiding the barrenness o
mother earth, and nesting about tn,
tender wheat, strive to shelter it from
the piercing blast. Fuel and food are
in demand as aecessdries Of life. Goo
pity the poor who are scantily supplied
in this severe weather. ] - II
Most of the farmers are killing and
sailing their pork, as the present
prices are too low to induce ready
sales. DNt.l'i--'i'i.' ''" q"
"A few days. since our County Board
met to receive the new Jail from the
builders, Messrs. Hahn and Eyer. The
cold weather, has, however, prevented
the painters from completing their
portion of the work, which was a suf1
fcient excuse for refusing to accept
the job. The truth is that it is mis-
cradle cheat for the price-$25 600.
To the casual observer, Jail made of
boiler iron, riveted together, would
be rogue proof, especially if one would
regard only the triple iron doors with
double locks. But the professional
jail breaker looks for the weaker hid
den parts, where he may secretly ply
his art, and escape when least suspec-
ted. In every cell of this there is a
small opening in the joints of the iron
that seemingly is left for the advan-
tage of the inmates.
This defect was ascertained by our
careful Commissioners, and the
chances are that it will be remedied
before they will pay for the job.
Our, lady friends are preparing for
Christmas on its annual return, with
a festival and fair in behalf Of the
projected new church, which is to be
erected next Spring. From all quar-
tiers the notes of preparation are |
sounding for the holidays. The odd
est inhabitant is abroad again, and
here is leaf from his book of memo.
ry, Of which Christmas glee is re-.
1ai-tei 2a ,a ~ e.. e. o9d aoi
One of the sports of the people in
[ndiana's territorial days, was called
yander pulling, which is yet fash
Ionable sport in the South, where it |,
doubtless originated. One Sabbath
day, in 1916, at the residence of an
Did trapper, some half dozen or more
men and boys were collected, and of
course some fun must be manufactur-
ID for the occasion. A raven was
lying and croaking about, and the old ,
elbow said, A"I'll catch him. So
aking steel trap, with an egg for !
'ait, he soon made sort of nest, set
lis trap, andein an hour the bird Was /
prisoner. A spring pole was set up,
o which the birdswas securely fasten- !
d by the feet, while its neck was :
oundly creased. The game consisted /
a being able to pull off, the birds It
cad while running at full speed, on, !
orseback-in this case, however, the !
ice was made on. foot T9 y
revent any saE unfairness in 5
topping, a man was placed on each o
de of the track armed with aswitch, .
-hich was freely applied as the run '
er came by. Soon the excitement n
an high, and many an effort to hold t
rmly the ravens head was thwarted e
y the grease, while the bystanders Z
lughed and jeered at the failure. v
The successful man of course car C
led off the prize that was made up P
Dr. the occasion. We may in some =
egree excuse the barbarism of those r
avs in the backwoods. but in the t
liddle of the nineteenth century, the !
ght of civilization ought surely to !.
anish it from the land. That it still y
xists in our sister State of Kentucky, L
, but melancholy proof of the bar t
arism Of slavery. I" Gander pulling" I
J there, one of the fashionable sports
f the. chiaalry," as We are informed
y persons from the other side of the I
liver.
Ensdgh.S perhaps. of this for the E
resent. - .r-.sae.1 q Er q
Yours, WILLIE BARLOW !:
RoCKPoRT, Ind, Dec. 10Th, 1866. t