Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-02-10
A Lively Country.

the 1Ot, WHICH was peculiarly
annoying because it was only dan
gerous to navigation during high
water, when the other obstruc'
tions had ceased to exist. The
Pot was a whirlpool caused by
points of rocks jutting out into
the river and causing cross cur
rents, and the higher the water
the fercer the whirl. In very
high floods nothing could pass the
whirl, and Its vortex was large
enough to engulf the largest of
the river boats. In ordinary high
water itspassage was very difficult
and dangerous, while at common
boating stages a fat-boat would be
carried round and round by the
current, and a steamboat found
much trouble in passing through.
Some amusing tales are told in
reference to this locality, and the
troubles OF the early navigators
here during the palmy days of
fatboating. It is related of an
inexperienced Aatboatman, who
was going down the river in those
days, that one dark night be saw
a log cabin on the shore, from
which proceeded the sound Of
music and dancing. Being of q
jovial disposition he tied up his
boat and went in to take drink
He was urged to stay and spend
the night, but pleaded an anxiety
to be on his way, though he didn't
mind taking adrop or two to cheer
him on his voyage. So he united
his boat and pursued his course.
In about ten minutes he came, as
he thought, to another log cab
in, where they we're having, if pos
sible, a still more joyful time than
at the one where he had taken a
drink a little while before. He
did not get off this time, as he did
not believe in drinking between
drinks; but continued to journey
on for ten minutes or so more
when 10! another scene of revelry
appeared.
"Well," he soliloquized, "thi'
here is a mighty lively country
/ believe I'll go and see this frolic.
AS be entered he thought ht
recognized some faces that he hac
seen at his laststopping place, but a
they were SO near together, h'
thought they had come over on
visit, SO our navigator imbibeC
pretty freely with them to a re
newal of friendship, and again pur
sued his voyage, pleading a want
of time, as before, for his excus'
in declining other invitations t.
stop all night.
AT regular intervals of ten Of
fifteen minutes, he passed two OF
three more log cabins whence the
inspiring sound of fiddle and tht
cheering clinking of bottles were
broke to his ear. But be felt toe
tired to stop again. and SO remain
ed reclining on his boat in stupe
fed amazement; while as he jour
neyed alone all night there came tt
his ears continually, snatches of
Fishers Hornpipe, Old Dar
Tucker and the Irish Washwoman
and his wondering eyes beheld ev
cry quarter of a mile a log cabir
where the liveliest kind of a frol
ic was going on. At length morn
ing dawned, and he saw on thu
shore a cabin whose proprietor wa
Just going down to the river t
wash his face, looking as thougf
he had been up ell night indulg
ing in dissipation. Him he hail
ed
"Hello, stranger was you on
frolic last night too p -
"You'd think it." asTsE
@Well, III be dogoned if thi
aren't the liveliest country hav
ever sawl What State is this
strangerf' 20
"Tennessee, Marion county"
"Tennessee, hey ? Marioncour
sfr f1es s7