The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-10-15
NE WANTED TO GO HGME,
Col. Ben L. Jones and the 0uaraa-
tine Officer or the South
r Railway.
An Exciting Scene--Comcdy ard Tragcdy
Together.

on tne ltta Bena Brancn, ana on boafu
the train we heard the following most
interesting coloquy between Col. Ben
L, Jones and the quarantine officer:
Health Officer xvii You let me
see your health certificate?"
Mr.. Jones, n prominent planter, r.
BY George | have no health certid.
cate, but l am just going here, @ n the
branch
H. Ono, you ere not going any
where from this train. Ny orders ere
to permit no Il to get off this train
unless they are armed with a full line
of health certificates"
Mr.. Jones-"But | must go home
H. OF dislike to be tie immediate
cause of inconvenience to you. but my
orders are very strict and / must exc,
cute them. No nan will be allowed to
get off this train unless he is properly
equipped with bills of health
Mr.. Jones-"My God! man, / must sc
home tonight"
H. O.-"My friend, you have heard
my orders: you are not to be put off this
train until you reach quarantine camp
at Greenville. After remaining there
ten days III see that you are given 4
health certificate that will be a passport
wherever you want to goin this neck
of the woods
Mr.. Jones-'"The HI you say, Hear
do you know who ! ann
H. O.-"Yes; | understand that you
are Mr. Jones. Don't know what wing
of the Jones family you belong to, and
don't know that it makes any differ
ence. A yellow fever germ could CRAWL
on your carcass and multiply aud get
off of you onto other folks just as well
as if your name were Smith. There is
nothing in a name just now, Mr.. Jones.
The only name that would do You any
good is the name Of your health officer
signed to the proper papers
Mr. Jones--"Look here. man; dadbprn
it, I've got to go home, Hear. don't
talk to me about staying il this here
Goddurned quarantine camp ten days
I've got to go home tonight Say, wont
you let me see Anderson? The devil,
I've got to go home tonight
H. O.-"Don't see what Anderson
could do for you. He is not running
this branch of the business. Mr. Jones,
this is a very unpleasant duty which !
have to perform in your.casee hut I'm
under oath to do my duty, and III tell
you, if it were my father or mother il
your place I should carry them to the
quarantine camp"
MI. Jones-"Good God Almighty, man
got to go home tonight. Look
here: Tell Anderson to come here; |
want to 20 home,
II. 9TH call him"
Anderson, the Cenductor-"Wcll sir;
what is it7'
MI. Jones-"Lpok here, Anderson:
This gentleman says that I've got to so
over to Greenville and stay ten days in
that dam'd quarantine station because !
have no health certificate. Tell him
who l am.-You know I have not been
exposed to any yellow fever nor hasany
fever been exposed to me I've got to
60 home" '"."
Capt. Anderson to the A. Officer
This is Mr.. Ben L. Jones, a large plan.
ter who resides a few miles north Of
here, on this line. | do not think he has
been exposed to the yellow feyer-i am
sure he hasn't intentionally-Wer he
to imagine, sir. that you had been FIX.
posed to to the fever, | tell you so rap
would he move away from you that
you could not see the tail of his coat for
the dust. hope you will not force Mi,
Jones into the detention camp"
Mr.. Jones pulling Anderson coat, in
a whisper)-''My wife is sick, too, tell
AIR. Jones family is NOT well,
and I really think he should be allowed
to 20 home"
II. Dwell, Capt, Anderson, if
you will promise to take Mr.. Jones in
and not let him off the train I'M
til he gets home to his sick family, I'll
agree to let him 60"
Al agree to land him safely at
hore. y
II. G.-"yery well. Goodby gentle.
men"
As Anderson and Jones walked of to
get on the branch train, Jones said:
Anderson. that was n narrow escape.
would not have gone to that quaran
tine station for a thousand dollars. ]
don't know how | shall repay Won for
your kindness. When you 20 back to
tomorrow, have Fred Aus
tin take your and get You q
handsome suit of clothes andrllarge TO
me. l want to show my gratitude,
Gadzook. I would not have spent tea
in that quarantine station for a
thousand dollars"
Anderson humored the joke until Mr.
Jones was about To, .aligb. from the
train, when he told.him that the quar-
officer was only playing wi.h
whole thing was a Joke
Mr.. Jones started to say something,
but the signal to pail out had been
given, and all we saw as the train
ont. was Mr.. Jones standing on
the track shaking his fist at the rapidly
,pov{ny tvatu We also understand that