Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-12-02
HUNTING IN ARKANSAS.
60 lar,,. neporl o. Q. c. u. club

A-fNf thil itttfoit ol I. - ts aiuo
Wednesday, Nov. 5.-The day after
the Democratic cyclone, and fair,
lovely aud happy day il was, finds US
en- route to Arkansas for our annual
hunt, Twelve men, four servants,
thirty dogs, horses, wagons, ammuni-
tion and guns, aud we have baggage
enough 10 stock ranch anywhere on
earth. Reach Memphis early in the
morning, but no boat leaves fcr our
landing until tomorrow eve. Weary
waiting, but feeding like lords at the
Peabody, where the fare is sumptuous
aud demoralizing 10 men who have
set out TO rough il, aud wear of the
en-rvating siIccts OF too much civil
zation. What fall is there my coun-
trymen, from tho Peabody to Tho
swamp; from pompans TO coonl
Tonight we met Capt. w. B. Ma
lbry, an old friend, and he takes 8
10 tho Grand Opera House 10 heal
the minstrels sing.
The 9TH, aud still here. Gro down
10 the wharf and on the Kate Adams
and interview Capt. Mark Cheek, her
master. He looks like granger
perhaps ought To have said wheel
or, as that is the prevailing fashion
now but he commands the finest
and fastest boat on this mighty river
The wharf was scene OF business
lie. EigDt large steamers were dis.
charging their cargoes, cotton aud
seed. Hundreds OF flags were up,
marking the various consignees, and
drays innumerable going back and
forth. Verify, cotton makes the pros
perity Of this Blus City, as does to-
bacco that OF one which abides in
beauty by Little River.
BY 4 o'clock we are all aboard and
comfortable. The roster reads as
follows: Capt. S. II. White, j. X.
Caudle, win Davis Garnett, w. A.
Lowry, S. A. Glover, Sam Steger,
Pete Barker, W. w. West, Ham Hyde,
T. b. Pendleton, 7. z. Burke and
Austin Peay. The tallest lot OF men
perhaps, that congregated, who over
wen. 70 Arkansas, half Of them over six
feet, many Of them new men, but
workers. Some OF our oldest and
best hunters are absent and 1t grieves
us TO the soul.
All night we steam swiftly on,
reaching Helena at 10 o'clock, p. M,
aud making landings as the night
wears on. Morning comes gloomy
and cloudy, and the low-lying shores
risa dimlv from the mist. 10 o'clock
we land at Old Napoleon, leave a
part Of our luggage at cabin OF the
light keeper and move over rough
road for camp. A continued success
sion of drifted sand banks through o
depsc woods, makes serious journey.
doubt il Stanley in Congo bottoms,
found worse one. White, with
some OF the men, has gone ahead with
dogs and to locate camp. On we toll,
I'd at last emerge into the clearings,
and find the houses abandoned, the
high water OF last spring having made
desolation OF this country. Nearly
sundown when we reach the site OF
last years camp, on Lake Jefferson,
and we feel almost at home. Hard
work and the new tent--a gift from
Burke-gocs up; the kitchen tent fol-
lows, and darkness and supper come.
We found Mr.. w. |, Warner, of Var
ner Arkansas, awaiting us and we
gladly welcome him as one OF u.s.. A
gale blows all night, but no rain fol
lows. and we sleep late having had a
tir,some journey aud hard work.
Sunday, Nov. 9.-Very warm and
sultry. Capt. White takes the wagons
and GOES back to the landing after
the balance Of the baggage. The
bows spend the day in resting in camp.
In the evening some OF us go to the
lake prospecting. II is much drler
than last year, Cypress is dry, and
Jefferson much lower. Some ducks
and geese and some signs OF deer, but
not so much as last yenr.
Some Of the men got Winchester
rifles in Memphis, a half dozen or
more, and now when they go into the
woods have breech-loader and rifle
slung across their backs. They shoot
at everything that walks, or runs, or
flies across their perspective, no mat
ter what the. distance. There has
been continual firing in camp, at pass,
ing geese aud ducks, and chips aud
boards. They never kill anything,
but their faith is boundless.