Richland beacon., 1881-07-23
OUR TRIP TO NAVCHITOCHES
Wayside Notes, Weather, Crops,
The Convention. etc.

On Sunday July Ord, in company
with Rev J. B. Wise and Mr.. II. /.
Davis, we took OUT departure from
home at an early hour; end finding
chat our young friend &C. Tisdale was
gong in our direction rs far rs Oak
Ridge, we accepted proffered seat in
bis buggy. Fordine BGuf river at
the Winter place without accident. We
proceeded by way Of Mr.. Yarbrough's
and L.aioufcho ferry to the Baptist
church at Oak Ridge, where we parted
with Mr.. Tisdale, he going on to Ba-
strop and we proceeded in the hack
with our travelling companions across
the country to the Monroe and Bastrop
road. Along this route we passed
through some OF 8 Ene farming coun-
try as there is il the State, but the
effects CT the drought were apparent
everywhere, while some Of the places
showed very plainly that they had not
been properly cultivated. The roads
were dusty, except in the Couley
swamp. but the day cloudy and quite
pleasant.
Arriving at Monroe a little after
4 O'Clock p. NJ, we left our team at
Mr.. Fred Edom's stable and accepted
the hospitalites of Rev. W. A. Mason
and his excellent wife for the night
The glorious fourth dawned bright
and hot, and We set forth on our toll
some journey, crossing the Ouachita
river in company with some Of our
Monroe friends, who were going over
on the Cheniere fishing, fully equipped
for the days sport, We presume,
though we did Eot discover the pres
ence OF the regulation "snake pisor."
Following the Monroe and Natchito-
ches road ice spent the glorious Fourth
in climbing and descending the pine
hills of Ouachi,a and Jackson parishes,
the latter performance being the most
difficult and not without some risk, as
our team was not used to hills and We
had no brcechiDg on our harness and
no brake to our hack; but wo man.
aged to get down the biggest hills by
locking the wheels.
Almost every house We passed this
day was deserted, the people being
out celebrating the day in fishing,
hunting and picniekiug. Twelve or
thirteen miles from Monroe We bault-
cd at o camping pace. and soon found
a spring of excellent water, down o
little bluff to the right Of the road
fed our team, lunched and rested an
hour or two. At this place we enter
tanned serious apprehension of losing
Richard, who is peculiarly fond of
good water; but after drinking some
thing less than a gallon Of his favor
ito beverage and engraving his inni-
tails upon beech tree, and being per-
suaded that there was good water
ahead, be expressed a willingness to
proceed. One thing at least the good
peoulc of that section is blessed with
is plenty of good, cool, pure water.
During the afternoon we were some
what surprised, in passing a house,
to sec o bears paw suspended to a
tree. and half mile further on we
saw its mate, we presume, hanging by
the side of a coon's paw-signs Of
plenty of game-and another thing
we discovered was that the people o.
that section were ignorant Of or dis
regarded the game law, for we saw
plenty of venison-and they didn''
call it wolf meat either.
After crossing the Castor and pro
ceeding about five miles, We stoppec
lust after dark at the house OF MT
Jas. II. Barr, kind old gentleman
who, with his family, entertained us
Hospitality. AS he was confined &c
his home by paralysis, he was very
glad to have company. aud we iouoo
his conversation quite Interesting
Mr.. Barr is good Presbyterian broth
er of the old type. while the compan
ion " no has shared bis joys ana sor
rows for many long years is a bapt's'
Our friend Col. +. +. Kidd has In
duced the people Of Jackson to give
some attention to the cultivation o.
cane and the manufacturing OF molas
COG which Mr.. Barr informed uS had