The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-02
/ HUMAN CURIOSITY.
Fiddler Williams and His Orig
inal Songs and Fiddle.
CHARACTER OF THE SOUND.
:. lives by singing Songs and Playing
riddle Of His Own Making-His
only Published Poem.

s.o.n. with his squeaky voice and home
80 eddie. is a familiar character in
ss.,lv every town, large and small, in the
s.,;ec Northwest. few days ago he was
: seattle and nightly drew crowds in
...ians parts of the city, singing original
..-ss an the streets to the accompanied
nj Of his fiddle. His verses are nearly
q made up as he goes along and, though,
3. ia voice, they are not Of much force,
/ - take like hot cakes at camp of hun
I Z, miners. and when he passes around
- hat and says, ''Now, boys, drop in
4. nickels and I'll sing you one ebout
4: Seattle man who tried to climb Mount
ssrrna.n he is sure to get the money
When ssFiddier Williams" is in Tacoma
I. ssngs about Seattle, and W hen he is in
~ Tngusenl he cracks Jokes about both
s1sses Wherever he goes his squeaky
!-<;rnt fiddle and good-natured smile
slrsrs take with the crowd.
where "Fiddler Williams" was born no
" SENS 10 know, and he avoids talking
IN anyone on the subject; but he has
ssn on the Coast for twenty-five years or
sore. In some of his songs he
! r5ss to the. time when. be was a
~ in old Missoury," and his
5i,rafe that he was reared among back
~oods community of that state. No one
noys his age, either, but one would giiess
mvxhere between so and 90 years. He Is
decrepid, wandering minstrel of an age
eue by. Everywhere he goes his old i'd
Se and rusty bow hang from loop at his
sn vest button. 1t never leaves its
Ire except when he gets drunk and is
liked up in Jail for the night and it is
hfsn from him by the police captain until
nays his tine, or what is more likely.
nves his time out in jail.
sFiddler Williams is tall and very
I'm, and his old brown coat
/ md vest and gray trousers seem
never TO wear out. He would be
cray as Methuselah were he not bald
ktsded. The top of his head is as red as a
woud turkey gobbler's gilis, and what lit
Il hair there is over each ear is whitened.
4 Ifls face lie long and peaked, his eyes are
hid in q multitude of wrinkles and his
kown forehead closely resembles the an
hofa farmers boot. When not asleep
Fiddler Williams" is always smiling, and
y seems proud Of the rows of yellow teeth
vhiehcomplete his characteristic make up.
Tie old man spends his time, when not
ktked up, wandering from town to town,
RneraIiy walking. He would Just as
non play his nddle for a country ball, in
kmer's spacious barn, as play on the
xrets of a city, and is just as much at
home As far as known, he has printed
bot one song. II is about Puget sound
md though very coarse and out of meter
Ills better than many he sings. The song,
uvhich was composed ut the time Washing
lon vas admitted, and which he sells for
shatevsr you're mind to give,n is here
/
lEilI sing you song of the Puget Sound,
Al Is Ut the present time,
nrgs are not AZ they used TO be
h the days of Forty Nine,
NSheE the old Pioneers, without any fears,
They came down with OK teams,
satI In later days there are better ways,
i Tot they now come down by steam.
CHORUS.
Iyev things have changed,
But there still remains
- mark OF that good old time,
Bot We got 80 great they made us State
In the days of Eighty-nine.
the days OF old and the days of gold,
Aud the days of Forty Nine,
y GOT 70 great that they made us State,
u the days OF Eighty Nine.
'G hfteen years We struggled hard with all our
Aeiried 20 be admitted. but our efforts were
IN vain,
ma The people from the Eastern states. so fast
did emigrate,
Ana the wealth around our Puget sound,
ave us right 10 State.
Z Chorus
~ Z the Honorable Lawyer Ferry,
Inc hrst governor OF our state,
g elected BY the people,
70 Gil the Office great
eEln send good men to congress.
ioss s men with solid minds,
Ngulate our laws of state,
Y eighteen and eighty nine.
Chorus
gnew-born State, il will be great
y iuiure days TO come,
member now, both one and all,
! t1efe chance for everyone
rave sound headed business men
r tnloagh all the country round,
80 able TO boast of deep water coast,
the shores of Puget sound.
Chorus
uiee hearty cheers for the old pioneers,
= IN nfst came 10 this land,
: y neiped 10 make another state,
y project old Uncle sam
= skld general welcome
~ The countrys around,
IsnUae and build your happy homes
H. y ne shores OF Puget sound.
Chorus