Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-14
SENATOR PEAY'S STORY.
AGoOD ONE OFF THE REEL.
How the Senator From Christian
Made a Haul Of Buffalo ani
Pike In Little River-The
Prize Badge Award

cd.
"Did you ever hear Pcay's big fish
story ?" said Senator l.. NJ. Martin to
a Commercial reporter last night at
the headquarters of the Anchorage
Asylum committee in AleXandcrs
Hotel, where Sabbath evening quic
prevailed and DR.. Jefferson " prop.
ped up in his sick bed, clad in the his
torical striped night-shirt.
The Reporter glanced across the
room at Senator Peay, who lounged
upon another bed gvavely pondering
the chances for getting home in time
to plant corn and set out tobacco
plants. The occasions seemed pro-
picious for hearing the story suggcs'-
ed by the wiley Martin, and SO the
Commercialist answered that he
hadn't heard 1t, but would like to.
"Pcay, tell us about that big haul
of fish you made last fall, down in Ar
kansaw," whispered Martin in plead :
ing tones.
The grave, sad look of uncertainty
and disqniet fled from the magisteri-
al countcnance of the Senator from
Christian, and was succeeded by a
glow Of lively interest. lie raised
himself partly from his listless re-
cumbcncy and supporting his head
upon his elbows, proceeded with the
following startling narrative.
Now this is circum stance which
is strictly true; remember that.
Its about fish, and lots of them, but
| want it distinctly understood that
there's nothing ilshy about it. For
the purposes of the present discourse
my name is George Washington. ]
suppose it is well known to the citi-
zcnS of Kentucky that number of the
male inhabitants of HOpkinsyillc,
who are fond of the chase and tho
gentle art ofangling are accustomed
to visit the northeastern wilds of \
kansas. every fall to hunt deer and
iis3. am proud to say that | am {
member of that cotcric, which by the
way, is Il branch of the celebrated
&c. H. Club of the Gait House IL
this city.
Con ourlast trip down there W.
pitched our camp beside the cryst0
waters OF Little river, stream flow
ing into the St. Francis, and, at til,
time and place to which | alludc
about two hu ndreG yards wide anC
between eighteen inches and tw,
feet deep, clear as air and pure As ;
subtcrranean spring. The night o
2 our arrival was brilliantly lighted h!
full October moon, ami we wcrC
gathered about our camp fire aftc
supper smoking and swapping yarns
when loud and excited cries alright
! ell the stiffness, coming from the ri
yer sideaonly q short distance away
We had just sent our negro coo
J down there after couple of bucket
of water, and fearing he had been AT
tackled by some dangerous wild beas
we hurried pcll-mell to his rescu'
When We got there most wonder
full sight met our gaze. The who
broad surface of the river was covel
O with what seemed at first to !
}. a gliltcring, glancing, leaping, DANE
ing, blaze of electricity, and our coo
stood on the bank shouting at the to
of his voice, jes' look Jes' look at a
J. dem fishes 7 His excitement infect
ed us in mighty short order, too, f,
the river was simply choked solid
full of big buffalo fish and enormol
pike. We rushed back to camp arm
ed ourselves with gigs and oars an
- clubs, aud then back to the waite
,, which we waded into and began
J wholesale slaughter among the hel
less inhabitants. 1t was the oppo
Y tumty of lifetime, and we impro
\ cd it. None of the fish were und
twenty, and many ran over 10
We knocked and beat and thrash
- about us until the whole stream W
filled with the dead and dying. l.
cry now and then one Of our par
n would get knocked down by a /
buffalo and fall over on the struggli
A. mass and be carried on their bac
hundreds of yards away before
could regain his feet; two men h
their legs broken by this means, a
and nearly all of us had our boots ,
ten off our feet by the sharp-teeth
. pike which were, as usual, voydcio,
ly hungry. Finally we were
completely exhausted by our sevC
labors and quit killing to save wi
- was lying dead all around.
two hours time we dragged out
the bank just 2G0,922 pounds of b
IN falo and 1902 pounds of splcnt
eS' pikeW
"What did you do with the spo
Scnator?', feebly asked DR.. Jeffer'
from his nest amsng the pillows.
"Why we sent messenger
n Maiden after salt, and he got twel
wagon loads in barrels, and we cle
ed and salted the pike and repla,
the barrels, shipped them to Memp
and other river points and sold til,
10 for nearly $4,000 over and above
~ our expenses"
Icb "How did such an enormous be
to of fish get up the riverW inqui
III rp-1orter