Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1891-08-06
HE HAD BEEN TO PENSACOLA.

How Drummer Turned the Lau.sn ON u
Yellow Fever Quarantine oniser
at is difficult for a Northernef to APP
preciate the terror that rumor Ct yell
low fever creates among the residents
of the South" said commercial tray-
eler recently.
"The last time was South, he con-
tinued, there were few supposed
cases of the disease in Pensacola, Fla.
1t was several years ago. In order to
protect their citizens from visitation
of the plague the cities of New Orleans
and Mobile established severe quaran-
tine against people coming from Pensa-
cola.
Il was leaving New Orleans with sew
eral commercial men, among whom was
great, big, jolly practical joker, a
typical commercial traveller, who repre-
sented Troy shirt and collar manufac-
turer. He was we'll en- toward middle
life.
AS the Louisville and Nashville
train drew nearer to Mobile and had
passed the only available connect
ing point with Pensacola it was boarded
by quarantine officer.
He was thoroughbred Southerner,
man whom you would instinctively
call Colonel whether you knew ne
bore this customary Southern title or
not.
He went through the cars question
ing each passenger upon where he had
come from, and particularly if he had
been anywhere near Pensacola. Finally
he reached the Trojan traveller.
Have you been to Pensacola he
said.
The Trojan halted moment and
then said, Yes, Colonel. l won't lie
about it. l have been to Pensacola. ;
His companions looked ut him in
amazement, the Colonel jumped about
foot in the air, while the other pas
sengers in the car started precipitative-
ly for the doors.
DO you know there is quarantine
against that placer continued the
Southerner.
Yes replied the other
We'll you can't stop off at Mobile. :
But must. have business
there
1t makes no difference about your
business continued the Colonel, posi-
lively. The Mobile Board of Health
has passedS resolutions quarantiuing
against Pensacola, and you'll have to
| continue on this train.
j i won't do any such thing, said
| the drummer Tn going to get off at
| Mobile. I've got an engagement with
johnnie Strauss, and | wouldn't miss
seeing him for good deal. He expects
| me.
I'll tell you what it my man,
answered the quarantine officer, there's
party of gentlemen on the railroad
platform at Mobile armed with shot
guns that will look after you if you get
off,
But, Colonel, said the drummer,
seeing that the joke had gone far
enough, 1t can't be as bad as that. It's
some little time since I've been to Pen
sacola.
How long is it?' queried the
Colonel, who had neglected to ask that
all-important question:
Well, replied the other, 4 can't
exactly recollect the day and month.
Perhaps you can assist me. / was in
nv ~nion Navy uufiug tue war. we
had little affair at Pensacola and an
other one right out in Mobile Bay. Do
you recollect the date of the Pensacola
event? If you do, that was the first,
last and only time was ever at Pensa-
cola. It's about twenty years ago now,
I think
"A great shout went up from every
one in the car. The Colonel laughed as
loudly as the rest
y tell you what it is, boys, he said,
the drinks are on me. T want you ali
20 join me at the Battle House bar as
soon as ever we reach Mobile.
Then turning to the Trojan he add
ed, I'll refresh your memory little
about those affairs at Pensacola and Mo-
bile Bay. /! was there myself. "-Neao
York Herald.