The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-29
How the Tupelo Statesman Came
= to be Born in Three
Counties.
Tho Man Who Can Amuse the House Of
Representatives Portrayed
--- at His Best.

clined a denomination. His constituents,
however, were wild for his return to the
house, and he was forced to accept. He is
not much Of hot-weather statesman. He
appeared at Tammany Hall on the Fourth
of July and has spent the most of the time
since then campaigning in Mississippi and
elsewhere.
The other day he returned to the house.
His naturally swarthy complexion had be-
come darker from the exposure to the
weather. He listened to a few speeches,
told sixteen new stories, begged chew OF
tobacco from Watchdog Holman's leather
pouch, and again disappeared. tall
Mississippian travelling in his wake retailed
some anecdotes concerning Johns career,
which convulsed everybody with laughter.
One of the incidents occurred at the out
break of the war. John was gawky boy,
whose knowledge of the world was confined
to Tishomingo, Itawamba and Oktib5eha
counties. The reEerberations Of the guns
at Fort sumpter were thrilling the South.
Each man was rushing to arms. Camps
were being formed on every side. The feel
ing was universal that one Southerner could
whip seventeen Yankees. The South was
perfectly confident of success. The only
fear expressed was that the Yankees would
back down without fightikR. In the excite
ment John went up to Corinth. where there
was great Confederate camp. It was the
first time he had been SO far from home.
He found there five or six thousand recruits
uniformed and equipped. It was the lare
est body Of men that he had ever seen.
Upon his return home, somebody asked
him what be thought of the situation. ''O,''
he replied, with a confident air, "there'll
be no war. It's doggon shame. As soon
as Abe Lincoln hears what's a-goin' on and
a-doin' az Corinth, he'll back straight
down, and that'u be the end of it. The
Yankees Won't fight"
~
The gaunt Mississippian launched another
"Reminiscences of John to the intense de-
light of his listeners. The incident oc-
CURED while the alliance controlled the
1t elected a harum-scarum justice of the
peace. His habits were conyivial and he
loved a rough-and-tumble fight. At one
| time he was accused of selling liquor un-
lawfully. His friends claimed that he never
had as much liquor as he could drink. much
| this plea he escaped. The last time the
justice was in trouble he was tried at
Tupelo. As the squire was personal
friend he defended him and secured his
acquittal, refusing to receive anything for
his services. In the last congressional race
the squire actively opposed Johns renomi-
nation. He was especially prominent in
the primary elections held in Prentiss
county. Aliens friends we're indignant.
They protested against his conduct and ac-
cused him of ingratitude.
"Don't you think, Squire, !" he was asked,
that you do wrong in working against
John Allen after his kindness in getting
cent3'
mo, DON'T" replied the Squire. .'pd
have appreciated what he done for me If
he'd got me out o. trouble in the right kind
O. way. But. blast him, he treated my case
like as if i wuz big joke, He got up and
everybody else a-laughin' at me. I'd rather
O. paid fifteen or twenty dollars to have got
out of the scrape fair and square. / don't
want to be laughin' stock for do man. He
could ha' done it right if he'd tried, but
he wouldn't do it. These funny fellers
had his little joke then, and I'm q havin'
mine now. Blast him! I'll beat him and
git even with him"
As good story as the Mississippian told
was of an incident that happened eight or
ten years ago. There was big mass meet
ing at Okolona, Miss. Both parties were
can led of. He wrs followed by demo-
crat. Among the listeners was northern
drummer. A day or two afterwards he was
telling friend in Tennessee what he saw
and heard at the meeting ct 0kolona.
ut was great time." he remarked.
"There must have been two Thousand peo-
pie there. They had barbecue and pro-
nhH fhinua uero inst a.hummirs
What surprised me- though, was to find SO
many negroes among the democrats. A
republican talked first. He made good,
telling speech. thought it would have .
good effect. But its force was destroyed by
little yellow Niger who got up and made
a democratic speech that literally tore the
republicans into bits"
"What was the negro's name," his friend
inquired. 4tand where did he come from?''
His name was Allen" the drummer re-
piled. Il heard somebody say that he came
Another story told by the Mississippian
was concerning big squirrel hunt at
Tupelo. A prize was offered to the hunter
bringing in the most game for dinner,
Alien hired several trusty negro hunters to
go into the woods on the day before the
hunt, to shoot all the squirrels they could
for him. On the following day, John put
his gun upon his shoulder, and his belt
filled with shells. He appeared at dlnner-
time. loaded down with game. He threw
about forty odd squirrels upon the ground
with sigh of relief. but seemed somewhat
disappointed because he had not done bet
ter.
There you are. boys" he said; 81 didn't
have much luck this morning. I'm not
feeling very we'll"
1t turned out that there were twice AZ
many in his pile as were killed by the best
of the other hunters. He was reaching for
the prize when one of his competitors pro-
tested.
"Hold harp he said. sDon't give up
the trophy II that man killed those squir-
rels he mnst have scared them to death.
He has all the loaded shells In his belt that
he started out with his morning. Not one
has been used."
It is said to have been the only prize that
John Allen ever missed.
-
The MissiMippian's best stories were based
on Johns campaigns. Allan was bora in
Tishomineo county. 6ome yeass ago b was