Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-03-09
"Reminiscences


lived. Just Dash and wife a very
estimable lady, and only son com.
posed the family; who were very
comfortably domiciled with plen.
ty around them, and a peace
with all their neighbors thus EN-.
joying life to the fullest extent.
But who made perhaps an indeli-
BILE impression on Dash's mind
occurred one night during the stay
of our mysterious guest. Dash
had just retired for the night, and
was beginning to feel comfortable
in his couch, when he was sudden.
ly aroused by a fearful rap on the
house which seemed to tell Dash
that all was not well, that some
one more than the family was on
the premises and not being able
to comprehend the true state
of things, and feeling somewhat
the sting of guilt became alarmed
as he recalled to mind that just
twenty years previous to that
time he was one composing a
squad which took from his warm
reposc, a brave one freezing cold
night when the ground was
covered with snow and admins
tered to his back "forty stripes
save one." And Dash fearful that
slowfooted justice had now aIriv.
ed, and a similar company of
doctors had come to prescribe
and administer a dose of the same
medicine for Dash, so he earnest
lv entreated his wife to go to the
door, and inform the gentlemen
that he was sick in bed, and it
would give him rigor to get out
and 60 to the door.
l have now related few of the
| many medicines which occurred
during'Old Soils" southern tour
| in the latter part Of the winter of
SO and SO. There was general
alarm at night and during the day
search was often IN ade for signs
of his previous nights visi s.
Some finding stones which he had
thrown against the house, while
others discovered his tracks in
the snow.
Things continued in this way
for quite a time seeming as though
"Old Sol" had found a complete
hideing place behind some great
icy mountain of winter, giving
slack" with his mystical partner
an uninterrupted reign over the
whole land, which he certainly
enjoyed except in a small circle
around the fire.side where aglo
with heat "Jacks" omnipresence
permitted him to pay his respects
to all, without respect for persons
or places, but every house in the
whole diggins from the humblest
to the most extensive mansion
was an object of his visit, and
STANCE too to note that after all
the excitement and alarm his ad
vent and continued presence were
comparatively harmless. Fl
greatest influence over the people
was to compel women and child
rem to remain indoors and call foI
more fuel. His attention howeve,
seemed mainly directed agains
. the mercury, as though he had
, peculiar spite in that direction
forcing it down with all his nigh
into the big eud of the thermOm
eter. and POSSIBLY might hav
pushed it farther had there beer
/, an outlet in the bottom.
He succeeded however in hole
} ing it down until sod Sol" o
his return from the torrid zone j
f due time began peeping aroun
t the corner from his hideing plac
behind the great iceberg of VIII
( ter to resume command of tn
| situation; and he being the create
a power as he advanced, hi
Jack" with his ghostship partnt
depart. When in obedience t
his command his ghostship quie
ly receded from his presence I
e turning to his native place in tn
r frigid regions to remain until IL
y proper time for the suns visit
commence. But az the time
e now at hand, we need not be su
# prised at any time to witness the
l. return. But / for one feel we
assured that should he again pl
n in his appearance in the sam
h novel way that he would fir
Z. the people in this locality bette
acquainted with his customs; pa
i ticu'arly his mode of introducti'
: SO there wonld be no one alarl
> ed at their houses popping fro
freezing weather, And we mi
= guess that there would be
q more fighting ghost with carvil
knives, and fre-shovels. n
10 shooting at the noise. Nett
III er shooting tubs nor killing COW
10 And / am almost sure th
{ "Dash" would not take anoth
,e rigor in fear Of slow footed JUST
Ia at this late date. But many
at the good people of this count
would recall to mind many of Il
Y amusing happenings of Feb. 1899