The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-12-09
Maiden, Missouri.

Maiden is the first town of any note on
the Texas narrow gauge out from Cairo
and is the best inland business point on the
whole line. 1t is comparatively new
town, mostly built since the hui ding of the
road, which first brought it in direct inter
course with the outside world. For three
years it Was the terminus OF the Texas &
II. Louis railroad and enjoyed the trade OF
Arkansas for long distance towards Pine
bluf. The country around Maiden and
Tor 20 miles south is tie finest of land for
agricultural purposes in the state OF Mis-.
souri,, and farms 10 its immediate vicinity
are as good'as can be found anywhere, YET
land is only rated at $1J per acre. The
soil is rich sandy loan, and farming Is
simply a pastime as compared with the old
clay farms OF Ohio, where the writer serv-
cd his apprenticeship "tilIng the soil"
This is the rich, sandy ridge that lies be-
tween the sunk lands-resut of the great
earthquakes-and the bottom lands of the
St. Francis river.
The stations between Birds Point and
Maiden, distance of nearly GO miles, are
simply the section houses and few dilspi-
dated, deserted shanties. The road crosses
few ridges of good farming country, but
from this side of Little river to Maiden,
some 20 miles, the country is one tremen-
dousswamp, and like the "bad lands of New
Mexico" of no possible use to mankind.
Deer, bear, raccoon, wild cats and other
varmints abound, and during the cold
weather millions upon millions of wild
duck gather here, turning the whole region
into one great hunters paradise with
scarcely dry spot on which to pitch q
tent Speaking of game reminds US of
hunters, and that Maiden possesses
THE CHAMPION HUNTER
OF southeast Missouri, ii not Of the whole
state, in the person of w. II. Van Cleave,
the genial landlord of "VsnCeave's Hotel"
who is also the owner of the champion
pointer of the world. He hunts for amuse-
ment, is always ready to 90 with bis
guests quail shooting, deer stalking or any
thing else that is desired is a perfect spec
imam Of manhood, in the prime OF life, full.
chested, stronglimbed, over six feet in his
stockings, and the writer has a vivid re-
membranee of having the legs walked off
OF him while this giant hunter was simply
enjoying constitutional. With bis No. 10
gun aud "Ide"-the dog-he is ready to
take the field FOR quail against any man,
one to five hundred dollars side. and TO o
dead moral certainty will win every time.
II quai gets up in range of his gun, like
DaVle Crocketts coon, 1t might as we'll say,
don't shoot, III come down." and save the
ammunition. His shooting is not all, bu,
what is of more consequence to the
travelling public, he keeps the bcsr
hotel in southern Missouri. His better
half looks after the culinary department,
and meals are served in manner to please
the most fastidious.
Maiden boasts Of four or five hotels, all
good ones, several good dry goods stores,
hardware stores, grocery stores, etc.
THE PRINCIPAL PR DDUCTToSs Of DUNKLIS
county are corn aud cotton. The corn fields
around the town and out on the prairie re-
mind one OF the corn fields Of middle Hi.
nois. A few miles away the farmer dovotes
his time and attention to cotton, it being so
much easier gathered and brought to mar
ket but corn, cotton and cotton seed all
find their way to this place for shipment.
The "CIipper," weekly, published by
Robert Ii. Jones, is fearless and well con-
Quoted out-spoken paper, an honor to
the town, and, as it deserves to be, well
supported. Mr. Jones is young mau fu |
OF energy and pluck, good live business
man, and interested in several branches of
trade outside of his newspaper.
The people Of Maiden are quiet and law
abiding, and like Ca 70 the deviltry is com
mitted by strangers and tramps. Three
hours after our arrival dec. 4) a couple of
tramps armed with shot guns, pretending
to be hunters, met farmer named Jerome
Blanton mile out on the railroad track at
dusk and presenting their guns demanded
his money-but they tackled the wrong
man. To their demand for cash he replied,
Don't murder me, III give you what I've
got" and drawing out, not his pocket
book but his revolver, shot one of them
dea in his tracks; the other fred and the
charge of buckshot tore Blanton's collar
bone and shoulder away, causing him to
drop his pistol, which the robber got pos
session of end fired two more shots before
lad hn