The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-08
A Mississippi Romance.
WHO NAMED BAKERS CREEK !?

A correspondent of the Raymond miss.
Gazette, over the signature of "Old Citizen, :
gives the following graphic account of some
scenes Of former Mississippi times, which vii
be read with interest, both from its local refer.
ence and its romantic story. We extract from
his letter:
Sometime previous and subsequent to the
arrest of Aaron Burr, there Wse an organised
band of robbers, (called "1and pirates, J
who committed depredations on the river and
public highways. The leader OF captain Of
this band was man Of great shrewdness and
penetration. He bad peculiar talent TO lead
and to govern, and by nature he was born to
command. He possessed an order OF talent
worthy better calling Their headquarters
were on the banks of a bayou west of the
river which now bears the name of their cap
TAIN. There were some settled citizens who
had secret connection with this band.
At that time General Cowles Mead was
federal Governor of the Territory, and George
Poindexter was federal Judge. They, and
the other officers, and some of the nabobs
and arstocracy, resided at Greenville, IN jeff
erson county, formerly the romantic residence
of the Spanish alcalde, then a thriving little
inland town.
At that time there were no steamboats,, and
western produce was all brought down the
river in hatboats. A Mr.. Baker, citizen OF
Kentucky was in the habit of descending the
river every winter as supercargo of shipments
of produce, and at Nachez he disposed OF
boats and cargo, and returned to Kentucky on
horseback. AS there were then no banks to
sell checks, he had to carry the gold to Ken
lucky. On one of his trips he called on the
boarded, for some thread, or other articles, to
complete close jacket in which to carry his
gold And not suspecting the man, he incau-
tiously disclosed TO him his plans. The hotel
keeper4reated him very courteous y land kindly
proi1ered 10 assist him III making the jacket
and putting in the gold. This MN was the
only individual to whom Mr.. Baker made any
disclosures
Things went on very pleasantly in Natchez,
and in a few days Mr.. Baker and Kentucky
friend set out for home. They travelled on
leisurely and pleasantly for several days, and,
as is usual with horseback travellers, generally
when they rode into a creek, one would ask
the other, what shall we name this creek :?
When they rode into Bakers creek, one asked
the other that question-and just at that mo-
ment twelve armed men appeared on the op-
posite bank of the creek, and the captain of
and said, 1--WE will call it BAKERS CREEK"
Sudden as flash, this incident explained to
Mr.. Baker all the extravagant demonstrations
of courtesy and friendship manifested to him
by the hotelkeeper in Natchez.
In his manners at the creek the captain of
the land pirates" might have been taken
for a near knsman Of Lord Cheserfeld-so
courteous, SO pleasant, so affable ! "Good
morning, gentlemen l hope you are very
well! Very glad to see you, gentlemen
Mr.. Baker and his travelling companion rode
up the captain and his company formed a
semicircle to receive them. The captain
walked up to Mr.. Baker and shook hands with
him very cordially, saying, "This is Mr.. Ba-
ker, I presume-and this abiding to him
sef) is Captain -- After asking some
questions about the state of business on the
river, the condition Of things in Natchez and
Greenve, &c, the Captain said, eve want
your money hand it over, gentlemen F." Mr..
Baker and his friend took out what money
they had in their pockets and handed it over.
The captain then said, "Now, Mr. Baker,
take off your CLOSE JACKET and hand itover."
This being done, the captain said, " Now,
put on your clothes, Mr. Baker" While all
this was being done two men held the horses.
The captain then said to Mr.. Baker and his
companion, " Gentlemen, mount your horses"
and then wishing them pleasant trip, and a
safe arrival at home, ordered them to pursue
their journey.
On receiving authentic information of this
robbery, Governor Mead issued proclama-
ton offering reward Of five hundred dollars
for the head of Captain --. A few days
afterwards, a stranger-a savage looking, giant
like, "half horse, half alligator" sort of man
went into GreenyIlle, on clear frosty morn
ing, and delivered to the Governor the head of
Captain -: There were many persons
in and around Greenvlle, who had long known
Captain --, and could declare under oath
that the head brought in by the heroic stran-
ger was the head of Captain -. The
news soon spread through the place the whole
town was in hubbub. There was very
great excitement. The heroic stranger was
the observed of all observers" and the cen
ire of great attraction. He was caressed and
culogised, and regarded as God sent bene-
factor; for Captain -- had long been a
great terror to the whole country.
On the morning of this occurrence, there
was another stranger in Greenville-a traveller
who had just come down the "Natchez
Trace He was, perhaps, slightly known by
some of the official citizens Of GrecnvilIe. He
was travelling towards Natchez, and had called
in for his breakfast. Attracted by the jubilant
demonstrations of the crowd, he went out to
see what was going on. He quietly took an
unobserved but scrutinlsing look at the hero
stranger, and while the Governor was arrang-
ing to pay over the reward, be secretly got his
ear, and informed him that the hero was a
robber. That he and another savage ruffian
had, few days before, robbed him, Upon
this information a warrant was issued, the hero
stranger was arrested, tried, convicted, and
condemned to be hanged and, on the same
day, the meridian sun looked down upon a
gallows on the top of which was stuck the
head of Captain --, and under which
danglad the hero STRANGER who beheaded him