St. Landry democrat., 1890-04-05
A Drummer's Experience in Lake
Charles

You know, my friend what drummer
is, presume. Do they often come to Lake
Charles? We've seen few of them.)
Well sir, I'm one of them. and I've had
a little experience.
For several days past have been out
east near the Mississippi river in the nigh
water region. was a solid week getting
through and never had good nights rest.
| never knew when l went to bed at night
but what the water before morning would
have my bedstead floating about the room.
The swamps were all under water, and
every day and especially in the evening
after supper I would have to listen to the
statements of the number of bear and pan
Their that had been run out by the high
water and killed, and some hair breadth
escapes, ETC., related.
This was about the condition of my
mind when l took the train at --
bound for Lake Charles, to which place
my employer had dispatched me to CO. as
the high water did not effect the people
there.
After settling down in nv seat, Only a
few minutes passed before the conductor
made his appearance, and very gracefully
punched me to Lake Charles. l was
awake sufficiently to remind him that |
wanted to get off at Lake Charles and put
in the always ready expression, Don't
you forget it," Having confidence as
always do, in conductors, and having more
than hundred miles to ride, | settled
myself for snooZe.
1t seems to me never slept better in my
life.
Chatter, clatter, mile after mile was
passed and station after station was left
behind while l was fast in the arms of
Morpheus.
can aboard You are all right, only a
little ways across the bridge" What did
all this mean? Was l dreaming or not
On sped the train, leaving me sufficiently
aroused from my sleep to know that l was
on top of the earth-somewhere.
The train was out of sight. | looked
about me and saw one lone man and he
not very inviting specimen of humanity,
but / ventured to ask him: "Str&Beer,
can you tell me what place this is p
Eyes, sir, it is Westlake."
"Well, where is Lake Charles?'
''On the other side of the lake, SIR
Glow do you get there?'
"Well, sir, if you will quietly wait here
until morning you can cross the lake on
the ferry boat, or you can cross now by
walking across the bridge and tressel-
work"
What to do was a question. Not yet
quite daylight. | finally made up my
mind to cross the great iron bridge that
spans the beautiful Calcasieu river and
get into Lake Charles, and put up at q good
hotel get ready for breakfast and then
to work. With grip mot la grippe) in hand,
| started. It was just light enough for me
to see my way clearly on the bridge. l
walked carelessly across until reached the
end of tho bridge and found had to walk
some distance on a tressel-work before
getting to my destination. From tie to
tie I cautiously trod my way until reach
ed the end of the tressel, when suddenly
| found myself in a woods instead of
city. An electrical feeling began to steal
up and down my back as vision of bear,
panther, etc, came rushing through my
mind. Suddenly noise was heard, low
growl, coarse, fine scream that echoed and
re-echoed back and forth across the lake,
then up in the woods, and finally seemed
to go off toward the gulf. A lion, pam
Their, coyote, what is it? I ran few
steps, the noise seemed to stop, then ]
thought of my pistolin my grip. | stopped
GOWN anu pluChSu Lib ouL UuL ahoILoT
scream, seemingly nearer and worse than
the first, followed, and in quick succession
still another.
About this time l recognized the fact
that whatever it was was near by, and l
had to run the gauntlet if [ expected to be
saved. I did not debate the question
neither did l stop to decide it. How l
travelled no one knows whether stepped
from tie to tie or got over the ground on
a city"
AS passed some colored men with tin
buckets in their hands, one of them re-
marked: "Dat man sholy can fly. He
outer whistled befoar he passed de depot.
He sholy must be runnin' frum M. T.
Jones & Co. IS ole wildcat whistle"
took in the situation and drew long
breath.
l have had splendid breakfast at one
of your best hotels, my nerves are quiet,
and from the appearance of things gener-
ally think 1 shall place several orders
here to day.
This is splendid, live, young city, but,
my friend, don't you let your city papers
have this story or I'll never hear the last
of little american.