The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-13
PISTOL POCKETS.
Reasons why Southerners Always
Go Armed


Go Armed.
1t is almost as common for a white
man in the South to carry a pistol in
his pocket as jackknife-that is. when
he, does not have a shotgun or rifle
where it can be easily picked up at a
moments notice. The custom is not
quite as prevalent in the larger cities
as in the villages and the rural dis
tricts, but it is a well-known fact that
many men Of the highest standing in
professional and business life in such
places as Atlanta, Nashville, New Or
leans, and other large communities, go
armed. This is frequently shown by
the encounters which end in one or per-
haps both men being stretched on the
ground dead or wounded.
The trouble may start over political
dispute or some very trivial matter.
Each loses control of his temper and
does just what any other man would
do if he was mad-draws his weapon.
Sometimes the quarrel may begin in
court room or in church or in a store
or office. The location makes little diff
ference as to the results One cause
which has led to many a tragedy in
the country is a dispute boundary line,
between two farms, or the ever-present
dog killing a neighbours stock or chick
ems. This frequently ends in each man
going off for a shotgun, if he had not
got it handy, and a duel then and there.
NOT A SOUTHERN CHARACTER.
To many people who have never been
beyond Mason and Dixon's line and
know as little of the Southern States
as they do about Asia, perhaps, this
use of firearms is regarded as species
of barbarism, and the Southern people
are classed by them as but partly civ
iliZed. In fact, the average Southerner
is depicted in the minds of many New
Englander as an individual with long,
flowing hair, with a fierce expression on
his face, wearing a shirt with rolling
collar, very much open at the chest,
and tied with red bandana in sailor
knot, while around his waist are
strapped two or three big Colts, going
about with rawhide boots reaching to
his knees. The Southern people can
probably thank the managers of the in
Vulnerable Uncle Toms Cabin shows
for this character, pure and simple.
1t is rare that a pistol is ever dis
played, except on some Of the ranches
of far-away Texas, although they are
slowed away in the pistol pocket,
which is frequently made purposely for
them, and lined with leather. Business
men who have occasion to visit the
South, or who meet Southern people
in Pittsburg or other large cities, we'll
know that they differ little from the
average American, although it must be
tlaxy Iox nr a
black SLOUGH hat, as New Workers have
for the silk tile. Some have the man
nerism peculiar to a certain portion of
their country, but this is seldom detect
ed. Ordinarily, they differ but little
from the citizens of the other portions
of the United States.
NOT ALWAYS AN ARBITER.
Shooting ARRAYS would be as common
in every State in the Union as in the
South, if the custom of carrying such
weapons was prevalent. AS many quar-
rels occur in the North and West, but
in the country they are settled with
fists while in the cities legal measures
are usually resorted to. A police officer
is called in, and may arrest one or both
parties, or possibly one man brings ac-
ton for criminal libel, and gets his sat-
isfaction in the jury's verdict. 1t is un-
necessary to say that many a man out
side of the South goes armed. This is
known only when he shoots someone
else. But the number carrying wea-
pons in the Southern States, in pro-
portion to the population is greater
than in the North.
This is principally due to two rea
ic hot h9 ha 6o1
down for generations. In childhood
they have seen the horse pistols and
dueling pistols owned by their fathers
and by the men most respected in the
community Even the family minister
might have a pistol in his house, and
nothing would be thought of it. They
were classed the same as other domes-
tic articles because they were needed in
many cases for defense. In many
Southern families. arms which had
been preserved in the family for over
a century occupy position of honor in
the hall or possibly the drawing-roOm,
lust as the armor of their noble ances-
tors is preserved in the homes of Eng
lish nobility The sentiment is very
much the same.
OFTEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
There is no doubt that the revolver
and rifle are absolutely necessary to-
day in many parts of the South, as they
were throughout the country in the last
century-as a means of protection This
is because the defense offered by the
law is so little that a man must take
some such measures to protect himself
and his household. In the thickly pop
hn
Sheriff or Constable or the village po-
liceman is within a short distance, this
fact cannot be realized.
In many a Southern State the Sheriff
and one or two deputies has an area OF
fifty or sixty miles to go to reach the
scene of the crime, and may have to
travel twenty-four hours on horseback,
owing to the sparesly settled country
and the lack of transportation facili-
ties.
Where white farmer has to go four
or five miles to reach his nearest neigh
Dor, and must keep his money in the
house for a week or month, until he
can turn it into the bank or deposit 1T
with some storekeeper, the temptation
to rob him, even at the risk of murder
ing the whole family, is very great
among the lawless class, which are to
be found in all of the Southern States.
WHERE LIFE is CHEAP.
Money is scarce and life is cheap in
this section of the country, and many
a man owes his safety to the rifle or
shotgun, which stands loaded in his
bedroom or hangs over his front door.
When he is obliged to go ten or fifteen