Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-04-12
FLAT GREEN.
How the Fiat creekers Fired Saloon Td-
den 0n0 Temperance.
Tullahoma Guardian.

den 0n0 temperance.
Tullahoma Guardian.
Flat Creek is bustling village,
seven miles from Shelbyville on
the turnpike leading to Lynch
burg.
At present there are three stores,
a family grocery, a saw-mill with
machinery for working lumber,
two blacksmith shops, one shoe and
wagon shop; there are two ply
sicians, one dentist, three church
organizations and well established
school.
Since the war there have been
several efforts to run a saloon, but
all were unsuccessful. The last at
tempt was made in the fall of 1876,
and thereby hangs tale. AT the
risk of being too lengthy, l believe
will relate some OF the events con-
nected with its disappearance:
A Mr.. F. from an adjoining
county moved to the village, rent
ed house and fitting it up, brought
on the usual stock of small s'dOg-
gerry" Having been so long free
from the influence of whisky
shop,it is needless TO say that he was
an unWelcOme visitor. This he
soon found out. He went to Pear
son q Co. for plank for shelves and
was told they had none for sale for
that purpose. This is but sample
of the attitude of the citizens to-
ward him. He was lonesome and
soon began to prepare to leave.
This was about the time OF the
Presidential election. We all re-
member the uncertainty as to the
result. One day positive informa-
ton came that Tilden was elected.
The Democrats having been out OF
power so long were jubiidnt. The
anvils were brought from the shops,
powder bought, aud the hills around
soon reverberated with the booming
guns. But, alas the next dispatch
told different tale. Then followed
several days of suspense. One
morning during the time, the wri-
ter, in passing through the village
met Capt. k, a merchant, and
with a smiling face, he said, 81
have good news" isWhat," was
the inquiry. SOUR neighbour" said
he, alluding to the saloon man,
"left US this mOrning." And sure
enough the wagons were then being
loaded. The writer remarked,
s'this, to me, is better news than
| the election of Tilden, and when
you are sure he is gone, want you
| to burn few pounds of powder on
my credit" This was said in jest,
but the hint was taken, and no
sooner were the wagons well on the
way than the hills again resounded
with the booming anvlls. Curlosl-
ty was aroused in the neighborhOod.
| Citizens from all parts came pour
| ing in on:the various roads, expect
ing election news, of course. One
of our most prominent citizens,
ESQ. D., who, although near
ninety was hale and hearty and
| intensely Democratic, being out in
the woods with his work hands,
hastily unhitched mule from the
wagon and on its bare back, al
break-neck speed, dashed for the
village. Arriving among the
crowd, he nervOusly inquired
"Are you sure you are right this
time? ?' "No doubt about it," was
the reply. Mr.. H and son were
in the woods at work hearing the
guns they left their tools scattered
saddled their mules and sped fol
the village. Before they got quite
to town the father suggested they
had letter go slow, 1t might be {
Republican demonstration. A hal
was called, but the son recognizing
the firing party as Democrats
waved his hat and yelled, Come
ahead pap, it's our size" PETE
P, who had been the best Gus
toner the saloon had, had thai
i morning taken a farewell drink
and being shalt seas over" as soon
as the firing began, rushed out o
his shop and seeing DIR. E
working with the anvils, asked
"How did the news come" H'
was told it was all right this time
"Hurrah," he cried, ~ knew them
black Republicans couldn't tiuk'
us out of it this time" The gum
) were heard at Lynchburg and {
messenger dispatched at once t
hear who was elected. Imagine
the disgust sof some when the mes
senper returned with the news tina
the "Flat Creekers were firing off ;
saloon."
Mr.. F., the saloonist, had go
a hint before he LETT of what was OF
hand and when he heard the firing
he stopped in the road and stoo'
with his face toward the village
and they do say that the air Wa
ssblue" when he moved on. TAX
ing it altogether that was the liveli
est day in our history.