The Forrest City times., 1899-03-31
Sucker Hunting.

Sds Is that OF Sucker hunting. This is
hsh OF the family catostomid@. and
IN early spring make their way from
the sea 20 the headwaters or shoals of
tue various creeks entering into the st.
FRANCIS. No creek in Eastern Arkan-
sas is more frequented by these fish
than Crow Creek, about three miles
east OF Forrest City. It's source is hid /.
den In the hills about three miles north
from where it empties into the St
Francis, and no more picturesque
stream ever gladdened the hearts of
painter or poet.
Along the circuitous route, which
winds like a silver thread, through a
beautiful valley, may be found deep
and quiet pools, ripping shadows.
shady hooks and hiding places, and it
Is here the suckers make their wayto
spawn.
An equipped sucker hunter ia DOS.
sessed Of pair of rubber boots. an iron
ROD and torch, and wading and watch
ing the shadows, if conditions are "a.
vorable, he is rewarded by full bag.
Many indulge in humping the heads
OF suckers for gain, but 1.-THE Old
Sucker Club" of Forrest City follow it
solely TOR sport, and they get it, too.
Last Friday night, the club, consist.
ing of Sid Trap, jr., s. p. Mcdaniel,
Dr. G. Z. White, Psyton Scott and Ed
Landvoigt, OF THE TIMES. all armed
cap-a pie with rubbers, rods, lights and
other things to be imagined, started for
crow creek. A short drive brought
them to the camping place, IA beautiful
sand bar.
The party was met by Vashti, the
queen OF Crow creek, who
g came from the hidden sources of the creek ;,
to cook and attend to the comfort of
the club.
Owing to a lack of the requisite para.
phernalia for sucker hunting. We
ZINES man was left at camp to reflect
over lie and how to make the best of it
and easily was the question solved.
Vashti, the queen, in dulcet tones told
OF her life and queenly rule among the
nils; how she wandered from Mill
brook to this poetic region how step
by step she had reached the goal of
her ambition, and became so enthusi.
astic that We local sought refuge by
flight, Only to fall into the hands OF
score or more of sucker hunters, OF
all shapes, sizes, ages and coIors, who
gave him more information about fish.
lsh than it would require to Gil book
Boiled down, however, it could be
summed up in few words "jes' run
de suckers on de shallers and hit 'eu
ever de back.
by this time the party was almos,
out of sight, the torches pickering like
a" Will-o'-the-wisp" and their voice.
all but drowned by the music Of thu
ripping stream.
BY IL o'clock the hunters returned
having had fairly good success, an(
soon midnight banquet was served
ut Tor the gods, and hungry GROVE
paid honors to it by cleaning the board
After the midnight banquet, the flow
of wit and wisdom began. And a.
there was "cheel amang then
takin' notes, not much was said o.
the mishaps. Enough was learned
however, of one of the party who helc
the sack on the bank and waived .
torch, while the others wandered up tn,
stream to drive the fish into it.
The glare of the camp fire and in
sence of frying fish attracted many
followers of Queen Vashti, and as the,
gathered around their dusky queen a
the edge of the fires, their bright eye,
dancing and white teeth showing
Dante's Inferno was wildly portrayed
While preparing for return, the dar
kies gathered around the banquet ia
BILE. and amid singing and joking tn,
board was swept clean of all the goot
things.
AS the wagon rolled under the rail
road trestle on the way home, the ia
miliar strains of "She was Bred in Oh
Kentucky came murmuring sweet,
to the ears of those who had ears ant
would not hear, and thus ended tn,
first sucker hunt of the season, every
body having enjoyed themselves t,
their hearts conteEt.
His Life Was Saved.