The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-29
How tho Captain Disposed of Ills
 fareonbacks.


 Among the old river men who have for yesrs navieated the devious windings of the turbid Red, is that prince of good fellows whose heart is as big as any steamer he ever ran- Capt. Jim Crooks. During the late unpleasantness Capt. 0. wss engaged in some of the upper lakes, with his palatial steamer, Blenton, get. ting out ties for the confederate gevern- ment, and short time after the close of the war-we think it was in July or August, 1865-he was busily engaged one day in lifting his steamer off a stump, when he was hailed from shore by re- turning soldier; "HolIo, Cap. what are you doingT
 Why, getting out ties for the gov ernment."
 What government CapY
 Why, the confederate government, of course; you don't suppose I'd be ship ping ties to Boston, do you r
 I say Cap, the government has 5een done gone up for two months"
 "The d-l you say" says Capt. Jim, and with that he united his floating pal ace from the sapling to which she was anchored, and foated down to Shreve- port. Striking the leading, he contract ed with federal t Q. M. to. carry one hundred and fifsJ barrels of pork to Jet. ferson at tvo 9ollars per barrel. Arriv- ing at Jesfsnon his shipper drew out three hundred dollars in greenbacks to pay the freights. Capt. Jim dcmurred, and says, "Cap, I've just got basket full os paper, new issue, in my office, and I want money, gold, for my bill" The A. Q. M. informed him that the United States did not deal in gold as g currency, and if he did not take green backs he should do without. Cap. Jim says that he did not like to hurt so many soldiers by having rev about it, and thought he would take the paper curren' cy and trust to luck to get ridofit. Com. ing down to Shreveport he wandered uT Texas street of Spring, he looked into 8 store, and, to use his expression, he "saw more calico, shoes and Yankee trick than he had seen for years, and wondered | if that green looking chap behind the counter would not take the paper money and walking quietly into the store he in mild, child like, innocent way, inquired the price of pair of shoes. The young man behind the counter blandly in formed him $8. "Whew p says Cap tain O., !" that's cheap" he having paid $200 for the pair he had on, and quietly slipping $l0 bill from his roll, gathering up the shoes, and made for the door thinking that the confounded Yankee might not want to take that kind of new issue, and take back the shoes. To hi astonishment the merchant called hin back an l gave him g in change. Cap tain Jim was so utterly astonished tha he called to friend of his, another'rive man, and says: Bose, don't you wan some clothes Pve found a conlonndet Yankee who takes this new kind of nev issue, and I've got $500 of it, and l wan to get rid of it while I've chance. Bose got inside new set of harness an' went down Texas street, and met Cap tain J., another river man, who wa anxious to know where he got thos clothes. "Captain Crooks got 'cm fo me. You go up to the corner of Spring and he'll get you asuit," which he did Thus Captain c. got rid of $3Oo, ant says that he spent the balance of the da,. chuckling to himself how he'd beat tn confounded Yankee out of $500 worth good clothes.