The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-03-21

was answered that cit was Gen. Clark,
a famous Indian fighter" he had rid
den so miles to attend that Barbecue.
Now, in my childhood days, / had
often heard my mother and neighbors
| speak of the terrible Indians, who had
often caused them to seek refuge in
the block houses, whilst their husbands
and sons were gone to meer the yellow
warrior. Now, my young reader, have
you any conception of what an old
time block house was
There was one, and it is still stand
ing, about two miles from my native
home. 1t was erected for two stories
OF stone; the first story was rather a
cellar, within which was a fine spring i;
the third story was made of hewed
square logs, so notched down at the
corners that the logs touched each
other, making it a solid structure,
that no Indian arrow could pierce.
When the Indians were threaten
ingly near, the women, children, and
old men would resort to those block
houses at night, and sometimes even
in day time. There were port holes
through which the men within could
fire at any one approaching, and hav-
ing previously collected food therein
they could stand a siege of several
days, until relief would come.
| remember another of these block
houses made entirely Of wood, placed
near the Ohio river, upon which they
relied to obtain water when necessary.
In connection with these histories, [
had learned to entertain a profound
respect for aman who had fought the
Indians, and who had been an officer
in those campaigns. Hence my atten-
ton was directly earnestly to every
word and movement of this doughty
general.
The Ohio river was about a half
mile wide, and the wind blowing M
stream, caused the white caps to roll
pretty lively. Gen. Clark, after look
ing at the stream. remarked ooh, | can
swim that river with my horse easily"
Bnt, | noticed that he took the ferry
boat like tile rest of us. | somehow
conceived the idea from his actions
and language, that a great warrior
land this General Clark had been Il
good Indian fighter might be. at the
same time, a great boaster, an idea
that later experience has not entirely
erased from my mind
crossed over the liver; | had never
heard a man make a speech and the
height of my ambition was to do so.
So. as soon as reached the Barbecue
grounds | ] noticed d man, whose breast
and shoulders were above a crowd of
men surrounding him, whom | con-
GUIDED to be some n making a
speech; | started towards him. bnt
when came within % yards of him.
he began to o away, still maintain
ing his height over the people around
him.
1t was the famous Jim Porter. of
Louisville, then about 25 years old,
and eight feet seven inches high.
Porter was then considered to be the
tallest man in the world, and was a
long, gangly, awkward sort of a being.
As l had seen him before, | moved to-
wards a stand not far off, where /
heard the first speech of my life. The |
speaker was Governor David Wallace.
OF Indiana, the father of the Gen. Wal
lace who was killed at the battle Of
Shiloh, and of Gen. Lewis Wallace !
the celebrated author Of that grand
romance, Ben. Hur, a book which has
perhaps been read by more people
than any romance ever written.
When he finished he was followed
by Henry Clay Junior, who, in the
battle of Buena Vista, some years af-
ter fell, as Lieutenant Colonel of a
regiment of Kentucky Infantry, yield
ing up his life for his country. Being
wounded, four of his soldiers was car
rying him off the field, but being
pressed by the enemy, he ordered his
men to " themselves and leave him
to his fate, as they could not save
themselves and him also.
The Mexicans rushed upon him and
Ianced him to death. Nothing gave a
Mexican more pleasure than to murder
a wounded man or a prisoner.
After l heard these speeches / turn
ed my attention to the Barbecue ia
bles, and to the drinking of cider. to
both of which / did full Justice as far
as my memory recalls the facts. The
election finally came off, with results
astonishing Wings as well as Loco
f,c0s.
Gen. Harrison received I.275.O17
votes, Van Buren,, received 1.12S.7O2
votes, and James G. Birney, the first
candidate who ever a on the aboli-
ton ticket received 1859 votes.
Gen. Harrison received 02t alaetor,l