Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-07-17
Across Fanning'S Bridge


Broad valley. Far up the valley
CLEANS the water of the beautiful
stream, as it rushes on through
mountain gorges and dales on its
way to the Tennessee. Beyond the
valley lie the foothills; high above
these rise range after range of
mountains. Above all towers the top
OF lonely Pisgah
There has been the usual August
rain, and the river is up and out OF
its banks, covering the fertile valley
and climbing high up on the stalks
of corn. Last night the moon was
bright, and | went down to the
bridge, which is hidden from the
house by high hill crowning the
bend in the river In the soft light
of the moon the old wooden bridge
Is very picturesque, but you cannot
help wondering II it will stand
against that mighty rush Of waters
and all the driftwood which Is swept
against its supports. Now and then
big log hits against its wooden
pier and you feel the jar and tremble
OF all its timbers.
] stood near the center Of the
bridge as in n dream, watching the
eddying Of the waters and the play
OF the moonlight on its surface.
Suddenly was startled by the sound
Of buggy, or some kind of vehicle
Gathering on the bridge. / turned
In astonishment to see who could be
going at such gait at that time of
night What was my amazement
upon seeing nothing-not n human
being in sight, not a buggy or even
horse.
81 must surely have been dream
ing" ! said and turned again to
watch the water and the moonlight.
In moment the same sound dis
turbed my reverie. ! turned once
more in wondcrment; the same re-
suit. Not n soul; nothing broke the
quiet Of the beautiful scene. | must
confess IL was becoming somewhat
uncanny; and when third time this
startling noise was heard the bright,
checry lights OF home rose in nllur-
ing colors before me, and started in
that direction.
was just nearing the end Of the
bridge when saw my old friend By
Golly-Jim. as he was familiarly
known. ] knew ne was the bridge
watcher, and he had probably come
down TO remove the driftwood from
the pier. This was his mission. !
greeted him and led him TO the cen
tor OF the bridge under pretense OF
looking at the drift. Again the clnt-
tering Of wheels and horses hoofs
were heard. | turned To him in ques-
tioning nstonishment. His face wore
q curious kind Of satisfied express
sion.
"You heerd II, too, did YEP" he
said ut bothered me lots at first,
but | done got plum used TO II now.
They say that's Dick Lorick driving.
He comes every full moon ever since
II happened, nn' that's nigh on to
fye years Whoopl thar comes big
'un, sho'." With this the old man
climbed out on the pier and with n
long pole pushed the log away from
the pier II seemed To me perilous
operation, but he appeared to be per
fectly unconcerned and fearless
about hanging over the angry water.
moved to the end of the bridge
and sat down, being very anxious to
hear the account Of Dick Lorick, but
knew il was better to let Jim take
his own time in the telling Of IL.
After awhile he came and sat down
by me, saying: yes, on this kind o
night don't mind having company
ON this bridge, not In the least
particle. You know | amt scared,
hut IL makes me feel kind Of slIittish,
sho', 10 hear that horse and buggy
come clattcrin' over the bridge and
not see durn soul"
NO" said, " Of course you don't
believe In that foolishness; but who
was Dick Lorick and what happened
20 him2"
"Who he was and whar he come
from nobody round in these parts
can tell ye; but what happened TO
him seed myself. II was this way,
You see that little cabin over thar
on the side Of that hill you can just
see the roof Of IL from here. No
body lives thar now, and don't
recltin' they ever will.
"Well, old man Joe skinner used
60 live thar, and msaner man never
walked Gods ground lie was so
mean 20 his wife they say she was
glad to die and get rid of him; but
she left darter behind, aud IL ever
was sorry for anybody it was for
that ar rruthy skinner And prct.
"! There wasn't any likelier gal
In all these mountains, As old as !
is used to plum love to look at her,
but | alters looked out the corner Of
my eye when my old woman was
around, for she is powerful cantonker-
Gus and perticlar. Hut Truthy was
one Of them proud-looking creeters
She hilt her head just ns high and
walked Just like q high-stcpping
horse. And as mean as her daddy
was to her IL never made her stop
her proud ways. She cooked and
washed and scrubbed for him; hut
she was high-headed all the time
She stuck 10 him. too.
THAR was viii Lacy. over the
river, that had been kcopin' company
with her a long time, and he sot u
lot Of store boy her too, he did, and
he kept on a-beggin' her to 90 and
look after his house Tor him. lie had
real good farm up ON the river, and
had built him nice little cabin,
lookin' To the time when rruthy
would marry him. But she said she
didn't believe It was right to leave
her dad, no matter how bad he treat
sd her. Somebody had To de- for him.
"Just about this time Dick Lorick