Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-13
CROOKS FERRY.

This particular old ferry was run across
the Sabine river about forty miles from
its mouth, and the ferryman's house stood
on the Texas side This was during the
"late unpleasantness between the
States. 1t may be there to this day, but
OF that the writer cannot speak with any
degree of certainty.
Sam Crook was the name of the ferry
man; and Sam Crook had very pretty
daughter, aged seventeen, whose name
was Irene, and whose everyday occupa-
tion was to cook and keep house for her
father and the hired man, who alternately
ran the ferry and worked few acres of
land in the rear of the ferry house. 1t
also happened at times that when her
father and Ned Baggett were both away
Irene had to run passengers across, to
and fro, as well as to attend to her house
hold duties.
Now, as we have already said that
Isene was pretty girl, it naturally fol-
lows that she had loves; in fact, she
had number of them, and among the
most persistent was the hired man, Ned
Baggett, who insisted on paying his at
tentions to her, although the young lady
had told him a hundred times that she
detested him and always would.
Ned Baggett, however, remained firm,
and told her doggedly that she would
some day be glad to take him, for he wss
determined that no one else should eTer
get her
'How viii you help yourself?" Irene
asked him at one time.
"How'll help myselfY I'll jist help
myself by putin daylight through any
fellow as undertakes to come in my way
that's what I'll do" answered Ned,
with lowering look.
ssPoohl" said Irene. ssYou had better
not mention that in Phil Barker's hear
ing, for if you do you will never even
live to regret itn
"Ah" calculated Ned. $50 you're
sweet on him, are ye?'
eve are engaged, I" said Irene, proud
ly.
Gan that's all lyou'll ever be" said Ned
''for Phil Barker's dead as hammer al
ready. Ha, hal"
"What do you mean2" asked Irene,
turning deathly pale. ''How did he die?
Who killed hims
''The Yankees killed him yesterday, !"
answered Ned.
1-bclieve-I hope you are lying to
me, Ned" gasped Irene.
But over Ned's features there spread o
wicked grin of exultation that said very
plainly that he was in earnest in all that
he told her. He replied:
'sNot much I amt a-lying to ye Phil
Barker is dead an no mistake. ~
tfHow did he die? Where?'
SIN Union camp. He and two others
were tried and convicted of being spies,
and they were ordered to be shot yester-
day morning, which no doubt they were. .
'fHow did you find this out?" asked
Irene, holding for support to the post
that held up the great ferry-hawser.
'My brother crossed the river this
morning, an he told me of it. He ran
away from the same camp"
"My Godr' gasped Irene. ooh, Phil
If you are in truth dead, then may die,
tool'
81 hope you won't, my purity one, !"
said Ned, ''for want We for myself, as
I told you before, an I'd heap ruther
have ye alive than dead Goodbye for
awhile" and with that he stalked away to
the westward in the direction of the tim
Der.
1t was in the spring, and heavy rains
had fallen, which had on this particular
day and during the previous night caused
the river to rise very rapidly, so that it
was utterly impossible to cross at any
point save by ferry.
Three or four horsemen and couple
Of freight wagons crossed the river in the
afternoon; and as Sam Cook and Ned
Baggett were both absent, it became
necessary for Irene to run the ferry over
several times.
When night approached the river still
continued rising, and it bade fair to keep
'son the rise- for several days. It had
now become SO high, and the current was
so swift that to venture out with the
ferry-boat would have been dangerous
indeed As Mr.. Crook and Ned did not
return, Irene was very glad that no one
came to cross, for she would not have
dared to set the old scow into the foam
ing current. But she was destined to
have to do with some very critical events
before the morning sun should rise.
She had just MIXED her one COW, and
was about to enter the ferry-house for
the evening, when cry on the other side
Of the river attracted her attention She
peered across the boiling maelstrom of
water and perceived three figures, one Of
whom appeared to be lying on the eground
and the other two were gesticulating
wildly and waving handkerchiefs In the