Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-04-19
CHAPTER VI.
A DISAPPOINTMENT A WELCOME

A DISAPPOINTMENT-AND WELCOME
OF course, there had to be a coroner's
inquiry, and l was called as witness.
So long was this investigation that
May had come before 1 was released.
The first week of June found me steam
ing down the Mississippi in one of the
great river palaces of that day.
Everything was new and wonderful
to me, and L thoroughly enjoyed the
journey. The river craft, of all sizes,
shapes and means of locomotion; the
width and majesty of the downward
sweep of the vast flood, draining half
continent; the verdure and luXuriance
of the southern spring, passing into
summer; the army of passengers, the
people, white and black, so different
from those to whom 1 had been accus-
toned; the sights and sounds of the
river by day and by night, and, as we
entered the cotton belt, the spectacle
of immense tracts of rich black loan
on the bottoms or the uplands, burst
ing into the mimic snow of the cotton
field;'' these were the things that kept
my mind in kind of rapture all the
way. To the speedy meeting with my
benefactor l looked forward inpa-
tiently. Never, believe, did man cast
his former life behind him more en-
tirely than had done.
1 was ashore at Vicksburg before the
steamer was fairly moored. 1t was
not the picturesque little city of to-
day, but scattered town of barely
four thousand inhabitants, struggling
along the river bottom and trying to
climb the heights. l arranged with
one of the dozens of loafing negroes to
carry my trunk, and, escaping from
the crowd of passengers, cottOn-buyers,
and ''roustabouts," that the dozen
steamers lying with their tall smoke
pipes along the river front had
brought here, l climbed well up the
bluffs and engaged quarters at quiet
place kept by a one-eyed Frenchman,
who would talk without the slightest
excuse or provocation.
After supper, as we sat out in front
and watched the twinkling lights on
the river, and heard the hoarse shouts
of the steamboat men to the negro
roustabouts, as they unloaded cargo or
wooded up" 1 asked my host if he
knew anything of Mr.. Pierce Bostock,
a wealthy planter of the vicinity.
''Bossytook, sair? 1 nevair hear re
name"
Il believe he does not live right here;
it is few miles below
Il cannot tell; know him not"
A small shadow fell upon my exuber-
ant spirits. 1 had taken it for granted
that everybody in Vicksburg knew of
the great and rich Mr.. Bostock.
AS we sat there, my host inquired of
several loungers, one after another, If
they knew the object of my search.
Not one had ever heard of him.
Il do not gay zere is not such man."
said the Frenchman. But have been
here four year, and have not hear re
name"
''Who was it?'' a man asked, coming
in for a drink.
"a planter named Pierce Bostock''
He gulped down his brandy, wiped
his mouth with the back of his hand
and began to mediate.
''Bost0ck? l declare 1 have heard the
name. I'm up and down the river all
the time, and things gifts away from
my head in week; but if amt clear
outen the channel man with some
such name was mixed up in a fight
some time ago. Wasn't it so, Frenchy?'
81 tell you I know not re name"
Rather detected, I was about to re-
tire, resolved to start out in the morn
ing and make a systematic search for
information, when a communicative
old negro approached me He had
heard my inquiries and told me that
"'bout seben year ago, or mebbe
longer he was lone Of Marse los
tocI's boys" He remembered the
place we'll; he could tell me just where
to find it. slipped half dollar into
his hand and encouraged him to go ca
lTo BE Continued