Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1894-12-14


DAYS of slow and monotonous rail
road travel, we have reached the
neighborhuod OF our destination and
landed on stationary soil The night
had fairly set in, and the moon, look
ing like an obscured yellow disc,
hung high above in the smoky skies,
where the stars paled their Intellectual
fires. Here, as everywhere, it is very
dry, and along the road are long
stretches of burning woods.
Black Bayou, Talahatchie county,
holds US in it's keeping this night.
DR.. Merriwether, who had gone ahead
to spy out the land and prepare for
our coming, met us, and reported ali
things "a lovely. Some OF the boys
camp in a building near our unloaded
cars, and others are invited TO the
hospitable home OF Mr.. X. L.. Jones,
who treats us with ell the courtesy Of
gentleman, and as il we had been
his life. time friend. His wife il a
lady OF rare beauty and refinement,
and hostess that brings home to our
hearts, dear memories OF our Ken
lucky home.
We have men aud negroes, horses
and dogs enough 10 equip cavalry
company, and il there is any game to
be found ia these woods we are go
ing to sweep it before us--even, az
our friends the enemy swept the late
election.
What their deeds may be the future
must unfold, but their names are az.
ter this order; Capt. p. b. Pendle-
ton, Saul White, chief adviser and
premier OF the hunt; James s. Par
rish, Lyman McCombs, w. d. Gar
matt, T. p. Burke, Peter Barker, DR..
j. G. Merriwether, Walter Radford
Walter Hart, AID. Cstlet,, Henry Ran
som, r. Metcslt, the only Democrat,
IL there be- one left, in Illinois; G. l..
Bradley, w. II. Woodward, Birming'
ham, Ala; Austin Peey-captains
colonies, deacons, doctors galore.
Six negroes do the chores OF camp
aud thirty.fi five hounds to scour tbs
woods. If this exhibition Of mel
and means excites your curiosity
come and follow me unto the evening
Of the last day.
This morning we unloaded anC
were of by s a. m, aud we have hsc
day Of t. A cayalcade il was in
deed, like some robber chieftsin re-
turning from successful foray
Eighteen mounted men, train oil
eight wagons, and thirty-iiye hounds
we wound along in mixed array. Fol
some miles we followed the banks oil
the tortuous Ia shatchie, aud thu
along the shore of Black Bayou, and
on our left great fields OF thousands
Of acres of the finest cotton, and thick
with men, women and children pick
ing and hauling 1t in. Here for the
first time We saw squads OF convics
in priron gsrb, under the charge o
armed and mounted men, hurryinl
from field to field and engaged in th'
same business OF picking cotton.
We soon reached the woods sno
were beyond the bounds OF active
civilization, and an immense stretch
OF unbroken woods II is, thirty miles
in breadth and seventy in length
All the evening we tracked through
this unbroken forest, where wheel Of
wagon had never left a mark, aud the
AK had never SCARED tree. Once
we came out upon the Quiyer river
but the forest 6res ragged around US
and we had TO seek another location
four miles further, which as yet has
been untouched by the fire. Ii is a
beautiful spot 90 the Culver, a slight
elevation, commanding the river, and
with great trees rising far heaven
ward. The sun is down, but the large
tent is Up, as il by magic, and a
great fro lights up in the woods, and
supper from home products welcomes
the tired man.
It 10 useless 10 say that we would
never alone have tresded the mazes
Of these woods, but under the skill
ful pilotage OF Mr.. James Sturtevsnt,
a cultivated gentleman whose father
owns large plantation near here
aud OF Alex Grahsmn who is going
TO hunt with us, il has boon easily