The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26

try; and in less time than it takes to write
II thousands of acres of land had sunk be-
low the level of the mighty Mississippi.
Inc rather of waters rushed into the
sunken country, and the suction was so
great that for three hours the river ran up
stream, and RATS and boats below the lake
We're torn from their mornings and went
Whirling into the seething, maddening vor-
tex. As soon as the newly formed lake was
nlled, the river went majestically on its
usual course, leaving to Tennessee one of
the nnest fishing resorts in the country,
which is annually the Mecca of thousands
or Sportsmen.
Reelfoot lake is not the only memorable
freak of the seismic monster of 1911, for it
sunk thousands of acres of land in Arkan-
Lauderdale county, about twelve miles from
ripley. This lake is ten miles long by
three or four IN width, and is also a great
resort for hunters and fishermen. New
Madrid, Mo-, suffered considerably by the
quake, several Of it's score or more of i'm
habitants being killed and its cemetery
cayed into the Mississippi river, and the
bodies We're swept away by the current
Eeelfoot lake is known as the hunters and
ilshers' paradise, and deserves that appella-
Ilon, which 1T has borne almost since its
formation, eighty-six years ago. Around its
borders can be found bear, deer, turkeys
and squirrels, while within its depths
abound a great variety of fish, including
pass, trout, Croppies, Dream, perch pike,
Duifalo, drum and catfish. Then there is
hsh in the lake known as alligator gar.
which is almost as voracious as a shark.
It grows to the length of twelve or thirteen
feet and has an immense head, armed with
large, formidable teeth. The loss of several
people in the lake has been attributed to
this fish. Several years ago a young man
was bathing in the lake, when he suddenly
.hreW up his arms and called loudly for
help, exciaiming that something had him.
several of his companions, who were in
Ooat, roWed quickly to his assistance, but
before they could reach him he was drawn
beneath the surface of the lake, and the
bloody water where he had gone down
proved that he spoke truthfully when he
dreadful monster. His friends believed that
he was the victim of an alligator gar, as
there is no other fish in the lake SO large
or VOraciOuS.
Reelfoot was a favorite resort of Davy
Crockett, not to fish, but to hunt, and many
q bear and deer in the then unbroken forest
fell beneath his unerring aim. Smaller
game was unworthy of his notice. Here the
hero OF the Alamo spent weeks, caring moth
ing for the outside world his only concern
being his ammunition.
The lake is private property, but the
thousands of people who annually encamp
on its banks, undisturbed in their pleasure
or fishing and hunting, have not considered
1t such. In 1870 a Mr.. Galloway, of Nash
vile, procured a grant for the lake from the
State. and leased it to Andrew Meadows.
of the. same city, for 1000. The owners of
the lake, w. NJ Wilson, of Obion, H. c.
Caldwell, of Union City, and the Cochran
heirs, brought suit against Meadows to
compel him to pay to them the balance of
the money due Galloway on the lease. The
amount was paid to the court by Mr..
Meadows, and by the former to the owners:
Mr.. G. A Burdick, of Union City, controlled
an extensive fishery on the lake, operated
large number of nets, and the amount of
fsh he caught was enormous. The owners
OF the lake enjoined him from fishing, the
court declared in favor of the plaintiffs,
after which Mr.. Burdick was compelled to
pay for the privilege of fishing.
On Sept. g. 1885, the lake was sold at auc-
ton by decree of chancery. 1t brought
something, over $4,000: Mr.. John E. Wells.
sold RI N for * mn n the RpplfOnt OnfinP
Club The price was comparatively moth
inga not 10cents an acre:
Now comes trouble. Never has any OBJ
lection been made by the former owners to
any one fishing or hunting for pleasure, nor
rarely for profit unless their operations as
sumed almost. the proportions of a monop-
oily, or to using swivel guns, or shooting
ducks and geese on their roost. Such hunt
ing is decred by all Epe 81 EN- HHn
and from Louisville, ST. Louis Paducah,
and other points outside have come annually
that this is to be no more; that is, if the
mandate of the Reelfoot Club is to be
obeyed, for, it has inserted in the Obion
Democrat the following: beginning this
season, little camping parties must keep Off
or suffer prosecution"
This has caused a great deal of comment.
Some who oppose the holding of The lake
by private parties feel that they will have
a champion in the person of H. c. Moore,
who can draw his check for several millions
Mr.. Moore, as all newspaper readers know.
is the young man who nearly score of
years ago left his home, Corinth, Miss, and
went to the diamond fields of South Africa,
where, with Barney Barnato and Others, he
made several million of dollars. Mr.. Moore
has just bought from Judge John Morris, of
Union City, his magnificent farm, Idlewild
on Reelfoot lake. Mr.. Moore is now on his
way to London, but Immediately upon his
return he will build a $4,000 hotel on his
farm for the benefit of himself and friends
He is an enthusiastic hunter and fisher, the
former especially, and as the hunting and
fishing on Reelfoot are what induced I'm
to buy IdleWild his unknown friends are
anxiously waiting to see what will be the
outcome should an attempt be made to pre-
vent him from enjoying his favorite sport
The fish supply of Reelfoot is practically
inexhaustible 1t matters not how many
fish are taken out during the year, the an