Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-03
Letter from Down the River.

Of odd Names = american and
Bachelors Bends-Hop Bachelors
Lire and Don't Lire-Pappaw Island
An Old time Relic Cotton Crops
and other Hems- Weather, Etc, Etc.
Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGER
STEAMER 0LIvK BRANCH
NAPOLEON. ARK, August 30. KG7.)
Many interesting incidents of varied
character are afforded traveller on the
river even at this dull season, when
there are few passengers on the boats,
and fewer passengers 10 be seen along
the banks. One meets with many quaint
characters and odd persons, and he can
find representatives of almost every
trade and calling, from the ruddy-faced,
healthy, well.to do farmer to the dignifed
lawyer or the latter.day politician and
negro suffrage hunter. To one wishing
to study his fellow.man in many shapes
of body and shades of mind, an excel.
lent opportunity is afforded. He has
only TO sit quietly and listen to the
various groups as they converse, or
watch the people as they come on board
at the different landings
Several hours ago, long, lank, cadav-
erous specimen of the genus sicGmpo
came on our steamer at Gaines Land
ing. He took the deck sweeper for the
captain and inquired Of him the price
of passage to Cairo. Coming up on the
boiler deck he noticed your correspond
ent leaning back in chair, with his
feet resting at an elevated angle on
pile of trunks, deeply interested at the
moment in a Walter SCOTS story.
Throwing down his numerous baggage,
all tied within cotton picker's bag and
a colored handkerchief, he accosted him
thusly: "Here, porter, take care Of my
plunder till we git to the mouth" just
imagine, if you can, how indignant and
small l felt just about then. All the
passengers, and even the ladies, looked
and smiled audibly as they saw how l
looked. The chap imagined the bar
keeper was the clerk and rendered his
passage money to that dignifed worthy.
The chambermaid came out forward
leading some little girls to fresh air and
river scenes; he inquired if that was
the captains wife and family. The cap.
tain only excused his ignorance because
he had suffered with chills and swamp
fever until he had grown yellow as saf-
from, and as thin as backwoods lawyer,
and because he looked as if q speedier
journey to loftier region would soon
be his lot, unless he moves farther off
than the low swamp about the mouth of
the Ohio
Among other passengers on board is
an old gentleman, who, thirty years ago,
was hatboatman. Texas has been his
abode for many years past, and this is
his first trip among the scenes of his
earlier days for very long time. His
recollectons and anecdotes of boat life
on the Mississippi in the days when Abe
Lincoln and Josh Billings worked the
side oar OF broad horn are extremely |
and entertaining He tells
us how "Shirt-tail Bend first gained its
auphonius title. In the olden time, when
steamers were fewer than now, heavy |
wood yards, often less than half mile
apart, lined the bend along its entire
course of fifteen miles. There was much |
and rivalry among the wood
choppers, as money was scarce, and
wood their only staple. As soon as the
wheels of an approaching steamer could
,e heard patteripg the water (at night,
when many miles away, they sound as if
-ery close), the wood owner hurried out
# his cabin without taking time to dress.
after lighting out of bed, he would
quickly light torch, and lose no time
n getting along side of his wood pile in
he hope of lighting the track to his yard.
The near approach of the steamer drew
nut a crowd of tow heads, whose attenu-
tive forms, like their parents, we're only
overed by eutty sack. In this way
he entire bend was lit up with beacon
res, and in this way it derived its name.
At later day, when the clearing was
onverted into cotton plantations, when
verseers became proprletors, and
Torked a numerous gang of slaves,
nd log huts were replaced by
,ore pretentious mansions, the peo-
lie grew aristocratic in their ideas, be-
anne tired of the title, and fually ]
hanged it to the less expressive name !
f American Bend A traveller may !
ow ride its entire circuit and stop at !
very house and he will never hear the a
ID name once The boatmen are all !
lat call it by its old chrisiening and it c
only among them that ether bends a
nd chutes are known by even more ex- n
ressive titles. wide Capts Tom Berry
nd Jim Roland Boatmen will cling Z
, first principles. During the war, Pal 7
yra Bend, below Vicksburg, was
hanged by the Federals to Davis Bend.
oatmen refuse to acknowledge any but s
ie old title
Pswpaw Island, above the mouth Of
szoo, was once called MY. Wife's 8