Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-08-25
Mistellafuas,
owen Grimes--A Story of the Late Yuba
Dam


Dam.
AS long ago as the days when MeCar-
ty edited paper in the city of Paducah,
the principal hotel in that city was in
charge of a rubicund landlord named
Owen Grimes. Among the distinguish
ed guests of the "St. Francis" and also
one of the distinguished staff of McCar-
ty, was Jabez Johnson, popularity known
as "Yuba Dam.n In those early days
steamboats, did not tarry long at the
landing, and it frequently happened
that visitors at the hotel We're so hurried
in their departure that they were unable
to properly arrange their business before
leaving. Most of his visitors being plan
ters from the South, were we'll known
to Owen Grimes, and had the freedom of
his house. One of these, Mr.. Huston,
had on one occasion been called to a
passing boat without giving him time to
settle his hotel bill. Some weeks later
Mr.. Huston was again in Paducah, and
called at the ''St. Francis" to Iiquidate
was seated alone behind the office
counter.
"I want Owen Grimes" said Mr.. Hus-
| ton.
II am Owen Crimes answered Yuba.
II am strangely mistaken" replied
| Huston; II have seen Mr.. Grimes and
he is shorter man than you, and has
| red lace -
~ have quit drinking" answered
Yuba. - 20.
"Well, SIR" said Huston, ~ left here
in hurry, owing a bill. If you are
Owen Grimes you can tell me what it is.
Certainly" said Yuba; 81 remember
1t. It is just twenty dollars"
t'"That's an enormous bill"
"Nevertheless it is Owen Grimes bill.'
Mr.. Huston paid it, and Yuba gave
him receipt. He afterward mentioned
the circumstance to some of his friends,
and was told that he had been deceived
Furious, he returned to the St. Francis,
and approaching Johnson said:
"You are scoundrel, sir. You told
me you were the proprietor of this hotel.
"No ] didn't"
"You did, sir. You said you, were
Owen Crimes"
"Well, so I am. am OWN Grimes
bill for months board, and / am obli-
ged to you for the money to pay it.
Specimens of VeritabIe Yarns by an I'LL
nofs Farmer.
When first came here in 1S49, those
oxen were steers. Stock was rather
short then, and worked the critters in
early. Well, one day, old Tennessee
Smith, down by the Lillypache, had cut
a red elm and it got lodged in the sloo.
and none of them dared venture out to
cut it clear So they hitched on all the
oxen they had and tried to drag it up Oh
the bluff But with six yoke they
couldn't make ii let so. Then some one |
said, send for Speneer's steers. When |
T., IA I tr,lNl hi,,, l.,
could have the steers, but Charley, no |
one else drives them but me. So yoked |
up and went down.
When got there | said, gentlemen, |
take away your oxen; and they did
'Then told 'em to cut welt all around |
the log, so that my chain would lie in
side of it just even with the bark. Then |
l cut a slit from this welt 10 the end of |
the butt, so that the taut of my chain
wouldn't catch in the hazel brush. Then |
put the chain around and hitched on,
and took up the whip and just gave the
critters a cheerful start with the lash.-
They sprans To it and jerked the log two
feet, and then it stuck fast. Then I !
yelled and put on the string, and these
two little fellows leaned into their work
and Just shivered little, and then went
along like O shot for yard or two, and
and with long red stick behind 'em,
and everybody shouted, and then Just
shut up their fly traps and said not
word. For, gentlemen, would you be-
lieve it, those two little bucks had drawn
the heart right out of that log!
Yes, sir; and if that Yankee don't be-
lieve it, can show him the same log
to-day at Jackson. The road commits
sioners took it for town pump. 1t was
all board out for use.
I started one day with my span of
grays and load of corn to drive to Jack
son, nine miles, TO market. Brought
home four bags of meal and barrel of
-four We'll, just as 1 got shut out of the
town, and had about eight miles of
prairie 'twixt me and Hannah, L heard
q rattln noise behind me-. and when /
looked around there was bouncing hail
storm upon me. L yelled at my grays
and flung my chew of tobacco at Billy,
for he was the LATEST, and We swung
along at what you Yankees call good
Hiram Woodruff pace. l never quit
Yelling, and they never stopped running ,
ill we struck Felderkin's corner, right ,,
where you blazed that big burr oak this
Then found the storm was
over, and when / looked to see If the
Dad was safe, here were two bushels 9
and half of hail stones in the hind end :
IF my wagon, but not one of 'cm on my !
sacks or on me. Gentlemen, I had
IN the edge of that hail storm all the .
light miles home! Now, it's my opinion :
hat you couldn't do that little trick to-
lay with any two horses in Illinois, not !
f you soak their tails in turpentine the !
light before, and touch match to 'em :
ust as you say, git out of this!-[ Boston .
4duer.
a
Only the other day two dearest a
riends' were in conversation. MY b
lear" said the eldest. '''do you know h
hat your husband told me last night Q