Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-03-29

NYsEl&al,h, ,INsSEA feuds, yendettas,
4SsS4s1 and bloody bat
--rAW%s' n ties, are most |
peculiar people with history running |
away back into the '30's, 40's and SOS |
and generations preceding, (which, if |
published, would throw into the shade |
the best efforts of the Texas frontier |
In the days of its greatest notoriety.
The Big-Sandians proper the men
who compose the corps of the Hattelds
and McCoys, owe their peculiar char
acteristics, their vengeful disposition,
and their undaunted bravery to an an
cestry dating back to the time when
the foothills Of the Cumberland noun
tains, the streams and valleys tributary
to the Sandy were first settled by
race of intrepid Indian hunters and
trappers, followers of Boone, Kenton,
Arbuckle, and other leading spirits.
Many of these men married Indian
squaws captured in raids or purchased
from the different warlike tribes that
then inhabited this region, and the
blood of these feminine branches of the
Aingliest Indians tfor tradition and
documents still in existence show that
the white hunter of that day was still
something of an aristocrat, and seldom
condescended to mate with the com
moner members of the tribes is at this
late day plainly apparent in the tall,
straight FORMS the keen eyes, and
long, black hair of many of the older
families. To this fact is also attributed
many of the peculiarities of tempera-
.ment and disposition so anomalous in
fthis age of intelligence. Around these
people, as a nucleus, back in the '3O's
and '40's of the present generation, ali
the wild spirits of this part of the
country, who were either driven from
the large centers Of population by VIC
iation Of some statute or by choice
seem to have been attracted by some
occult magnetism, until the Big Sandy
country became known throughout the
country as the home and hiding place
of hundreds of the widest characters.
The Big Sandy raftsmen became
known throughout the country as the
widest, most dangerous class of men
on the Ohio River. Their carouses,
their love OF fighting or anything
which partook of desperation and dew
ltry is still familiar theme from
Pittsburg to Cincinnati Hundreds of
stories Of their daredevil scrapes are
still told along the river, and it was
not an uncommon thing when several
hundred of them had sold their tim
Der, which they had foated down to
Cincinnati in immense RATS and fleets,
for them. to get on board one of the
largest boats which at that day piled
the river, on their up trip, and take
the captain, pilots, engineers, and 9th
or officers prisoners, and then run the
boat to suit themselves. On such oc-
rasions steamboat would become a
rpandemonium, with several hundred
gigantic devils whooping, yelling,
splitting tobacco juice against the bulk
heads, mirrors, or furniture, while
other disported themselves with cards
and played old sledge" or stud
poker" until one or other participant
got up dead broke or the affair ended
in a general fight. Upon the hurn-
cane deck some leading spirit woulo
stand in command of the vessel, while
another covered the pilot with pisto
or rifle and compelled him t.
steer the craft subject to tn,
,whim Of the biggest devil, who
oyas in command. Below on'
~or two sat around the engine
room and persuaded the enginee
and stokers into submission. On thes'
occasions the amount of steam wa
most frequently controlled by the ca
pacity Of the boilers, as the boat fairl
flew through the water. Every othe
craft in the Legitimate trade gave tn
pirate as wide berth rs possible
running into the bank if necessary t
get out Of the way When a town o
landing was approached the bell wa
kept changing as fast as stalwart arm
could pull tho rope, while the whistl
was blown loud and long enough
awaken the seven slcopers. Tho cit
IONS ut fhe town seemed 90 know b
Intuition that tho nitsmeu had take
possession al tho boat long before sl
.cna.o u sight. aud crowds of the
would tmeTcMte along Che bank
witness the strange scene. Ihoro va
30 also uItslst. rvs sttamh1ttmcu sos
learned. aal thr oely Way tn cave q
baat and FufeflyHas tn effect SON
a0ft ot Compounded Hhlgh aonefal
ended H iAe ahradUih running q.
steamer t.'f IS IaF urh a matte,
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