New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-12
LETTER FROM ACROSS THE LAKE.
Blue Bass Fishing-Affairs in st. Tam
many-A Murder-A Fire, Etc.
CovINGToN. st. TAShATY PARISH,

n IuHlOl SlIdt JDC SIiAPNN vars "oIS
biting" brought me hither last Sunday
morning. Not that / had ever caught a
striped bass. or had very clear idea what
kind of fish the said striped bass was Still,
as my fellow townsmen of COvington had
told me wonderful stories last summer of
their catches during the previous April, and
appeared 20 date all piscatOrial events from
the time when striped bass bit" ! mad
even then formed resolution never to be
absent from the waters of the BOgue Falia
when that al! important period arrived
Therefore, when my friend i. announced
the fact to me last week by letter, it only
remained for me to hunt up the necessary
spondulics to satisfy the clerk OF the Ca.
melia Nv mind had been long made up.
1t took me until Sunday to do this. NY
baggage was sooh packed, as 1t consisted
only of an assortment of fishing tackle from
Gertie's and couple OF Blaney Walshe's
shirts, with few paper collars for any
emergency which might arise.
NV trip across the lake was rendered so
pleasant by the companionship Of a vener-
able ex sheriff Of Orleans and learned
counselor at law that when came to pass
over the stage plank at Vaudeville, it for
the first time occurred to me that the small
sum usually paid by passengers still re-
posed quietly in my pocket book. But Mr..
Richards smilingly bade me pass on, as
could pay il at my leisure on my trip back
to the city. All, the malice OF that smile
He knew that even striped bass could not
bite alVays, and that / would have to fall
into his clutches sooner or later. Still it
proved that / still had credit. The butcher,
the baker, the milkman and the mercer
might shut their books upon me and demand
payment OF old scores before any new en-
tries would be made upon those Scared
and biotted pages; but here could still
feel that. did desire it. my name could
yet fetch something. Therefore strode
along the wharf with head erect and with
a more Qr0nOneec curl on my moustache
than have had the face TO wear for Elk
months past.
Not finding Victor Plauche THAT stage
driver who would rather kill dozen horses
than hear a complaint from one Of his pat
rons! awaiting me at the end of the wharf,
| came near falling into a fit of despair at
the prospect of having to commit myself
a gain into the hands of the old Frenchman
who live, at Vaudeville, with the sole OBJ
ject in view of entlcing people to employ
him to drive them up to Covington in his
hack drawn by pair of mules, for which |
service (which usually requires six hours |
for the performance he only charges S.. |
But just as | was about doing so, whom |
should ! see but little John, the blacksmith |
.son of big John. the blacksmith, whose |
surname should be Jehu. for never was |
there more desperate driver Why. sir, a
pine tree is no obstacle to his career-not |
that he ever collides with one, but he keeps |
you in constant fear that he will. He is
wonderful driver. that's certain. Fancy |
yourself being whirled along at two
tOrty speed over a road as crooked |
rs a line of photographic manuscript, and
through a country the principal productions
)f which are enormous pine trees, roots as
Dig as anacondas. and where there are as
many stumps as DR.. DeHart extracts from
he jaws OF his patients in year. and
aever hitting anything but the ro0ts-even
over three-quarters of those.
Rattle trap, jiggity, jiggity, caraum, slap,
,aDg, tweechy, tweech, is about all you
lave time TO hear. As to seeiug, that's an
You occupy no regular posi-
ion in the vehicle. One moment you are
ying collapsed on the back seat, the next
tanding on your head on the front, again
N the noor among miscellaneous collec-
ion of carpet-bags, milk jugs and assorted
hardware and leather straps. You find
7ourselt at times thrown violently across
he shoulders of this "wondrous boy," at
'thers tearing away al inside rigging of
he carriage in truitless endeavors to keep
teady. That was the way l rode from
to CoviDgton. And had been
7accinated week before and had a colo
lel and two or three subalterns under my
Irm. But had not heard that the striped
,ass were biting!
1t took the balance of the dav for me to
ecover the equilibrium lost in little John
he Blacksmith's company. Ireposed and
ixed my fishing tackle. Late in the after
loon strolled out TO enjoy the inyigorat-
nS breezes that are waited over the aro-
matte pine forests. The scenery was truly
ovely with the budding forests Just putting
N their spring attire of green and garlands
! gay flowers; the sloping meadows
otted here aud there with cattle reaping
he tTst fruits OF verdure with eager haste,
nd appetite Iuickened by the fragrance
1halea at every breath. l stood as one
ntranced, torgetful Of the missions, for
ettul OF my creditors, even oblivious of
ne grand purpose OF my coming hither.
low long remained thus have no means
T knowing: but I was at length brought
ack to a sense Of my real position by
lde slap on my vaccination Itwas B. and
Vas only the work of three minutes for
5 to arrange the preliminaries of my first
nslaught against the striped bass. Four
clock the mex: morning was the hour |
amed, Tor We were to walk 10 the fishing
round. four miles off. We were to devote
Ionday and Tuesday to the sport.
On the night of the second instant one Of
lie most terrible murders vas committed
| this town that l ever heard related. A
oung man named Anatole McCap, a quad
'on, was shot and almost instantly killed
black man, who is called by the inhsbi- (
snts here Hominy Tom. could not learn
Is other name. The affair as related to me
: eye witnesses occurred about as follows:
9th men had been drinking very freely,
hen difficulty sprung up between Tom
I'D an old man named Louis Valentine, ]
ncle to McCan: and Tom, who carried o {