The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-12-11
In Cyclone strealz

This time last week / didn't know a
blessed bit more than you about
what was goin on over there in that
rugged strip Of country which they
call Cyclone Streak. But soon Friday
mornin little Bunk Weatherford rid by
to tell us that they would have a big
picnic and public speakin in Cyclone
Streak that day. ,Nothin must do but
what / must go, and so consequentially
I went with him.
Well, first and last, Ihave lived a long
time, been about considerable and seen
a heap Of sights. But that was the
gonebyest, hottest day, and the bIam-
dests most hottest place I have ever
naanle
# dirk knives and s~ixhnot
grow on the trees ii that country III.
be essentially himfamed If I can tell
where they come from in such alarmin
plenty. And bless the heavens If it
don't look to me like you could take
and saw up the rotten logs over there
and squeeze out moonshine whisky by
the gallon,
1t was ruther late when me and Bunk
driv up that day and they had already
opened the performance. But in the
mainline it would seem like they had
got up a red-hot disputation and some
Of the delegates had bolted the com
vention. One half of the crowd want
ed to put up six Of their most ablest
young men-three to the side-and
debate the great question al to who
discovered America, whilst the other
side wanted to hire a pair Of fddlers
and adopt a platform in favor of a free
and unlimited good time. That was
the snag on which they first tore the
blanket, and all but tore up the bosom
of mother earth with a anonymous re-
port in favor of a free fight. When we
driv up the f1ddlers were playin little
patches of some lively old tunes like
"Cotton-Eyed joe" and "Mollie Put
the Kettle On" and "Soapsuds Over the
Fence" whilst one-half of the crowd
went on with the dance. Clost by Gus
Harkins had clum into a wagon, opened
the debate and was holdin forth on the
mainest question: who discovered
America - Christopher Columbus or
George Washington"
As time wore on the dancing waxed
fast and furious, and the speakin
waxed loud and louder. It was then
four bits with one and so cents with
the other as to which could kick up the
most fuss-two fddlers with their fd-
dies or Gus Harkins with his mouth.
By and by the thing got so sulfurious
hot till somethin had to blaze. The
fire broke loose out in the edge of the
crowd, and when the dust riz and the
smoke cleared away there was wound
edo; dead-0; badly skeered-217.
When Bunk Weatherford come by
that mornin he fetched the news that
they would have dinner on the ground
But I didn't see no signs of kitchen
physic. All I could see was people
and empty bottles and six-shooters
Consequentially when / come to thinl
about 1t, If / had any business to tend
to it was here at home, and I hadn''
lost nothin over there in Cyclons
Streak.
When me and Bunk hooked up and
driv of they hadn't yet settled til,
great question al to who discovered
America. But Bunk lowed it didn'
make a durn bit of difference with hin
whether it was Christopher Columbus
or George Washington or Andy Jack
son. He was in favor of the resolution
to return back home. And I come will
him.
She Got the Clothes.
One of these old female fortune tell
ers come through the settlen ent th'
other day and tried her very levelesl