The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-15
A Lively Country.
A Chattanooga correspondent of the
Louisville Courier-Journal is responsible for
the following Tennessee story:

A Chattanooga correspondent of the
Louisville Courier-Journal is responsible for
the following Tennessee story:
One of the most notable Instructions up
on the Upper Tennessee river has been what
is called the SPOT" which was peculiarly
annoying because it was only dangerous to
navigation during high water, when the
other distractions had ceased to exist. The
pot was whirlpool caused by points of
rocks jutting out into the river and causing
cross currents, and the higher the water the
fercer the whirl. In very high floods moth
ing could pass the whirl, and its vsrtex was
large enough to engulf the largest of the
river boats. In ordinary high water its pas
sage was very difficult aud dangerous, while
at common boating stages fat boat would
be carried round and round by the current,
and steamboat found much trouble in pas
sing through. t
Some amusing tales are told in reference
to this locality and the troubles of the early
navigators here during the palmy days Of
f1atboating.
1t is related of an inexperienced fatboat-
man, who was going down the river in those
days, that one dark night he saw log-cabin
on the shore, from which proceeded the
sound of music and dancing. Being of a
jovial disposition, he tied up his boat and
went in to take drink.
Hewas urged to stay and spend tine night
but pleaded an anxiety to be on his way,
though he didn't mind taking drop or two
to cheer him on his voyage So he united
his boat and pursued his course.
In about ten minutes he came,a as he thought,
to another log cabin, where they were hay
ing, ifpossible, still more joyful time than
at the one where he had taken a drink
little while before. He did not get off this
time, as he did not believe in drinking be-
tween drinks, but continued to journey on
for ten minutes or so more, when To-! anoth-
er scene of revelry appeared.
"Well," he soliloquized, ''this here lisa
mighty lively country. believe I'll go and
see this frolic."
As he entered, he thought he recognized
some faces that he had seen at his last stop
ping place, but as they were so near together
he thought they had just come over on Wis.
it, so our navigator imbibed pretty freely
with them to renewal of friendships, and
again pursued his voyage, pleading a want
of time, as before, for.his excuse in declin-
ing all other invitations to stop all night.
At regular intervals of ten or fifteen min
utes he passed two or three more log cabins,
whence the inspiring sound Of thefddle and
the cheering clnking of bottles were borne
to his ears. But he felt too tired to stop
again, and SO remained reclining on his boat
in stupeied amazement while as he jour
neyed along all night there came to his ears
81
Hornpipe, Old Dan Tucker, and the Irish
Washerwoman, and his wondering eyes be-
held at every quarter of mile log cabin
where the hvliest kind of frelic was goino
on. y fi3- .'-Tf e :
At length morning dawned, and he saw on
the shore cabin whose proprietor WAS inst
going down to the river. to wash his face
looking very much as though he had been
up all night indulging in dissipation. Him
he hailed: = -A'
"Hello, stranger! was you on frolic last
night, too 2" 49,
You'd think it." was the reply
well, I'll be dogoned if this aren't the
livliest country have ever saw / What Stato
is this, stranger ~ ' -
Tennessee, Marion county,"
tennessee, hey 2 Marion county9 Well.
IL are merry un. Stranger, it just beats
everything | ever seed in all my own DAYS.
l was raised up here in jefferson where thev
are some on frolicking, but this here lust
knocks the center plumb out of that. Why.
stranger, I've been travelling down this riy.
er all night. must have come thirty miles
at least, and I'll be darned il, there wasn't
canln every half mile, and tho biggest kind
O. 2 tFallc in every one Of them, w6iskey and
addliR', and daucla' GIL you oouldp't Ysst,-~