The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-08-13
EXPERIENCE OF A
REFUGEE IN 1888
FLoRIoIAN WENT AGAINST THE
REAL ARTICLE WHILE FLEE
ING FROM YELLOW
FEVER.

/ jack in 1906 said a guest at one Oh
Jacksonville's hotels Sunday, to the
Jacksonville Times-Union, you ought
/ 10 have run w against the game IN
/ 1888. 1t was fierce.
/ When the yellow jack broke out
4 in one Of the inland towns of Florida,
4 was assisting the agent at one or
\ The railroad lines. OF course there
was nothing doing in railroad business
I Cf that town then and my services
were not required. Something whis-
pered in my ear that had better git
and | got 1t was just nine miles and
three quarters from a pay day and /
1 had not a bank account in those days.
Beating my way on the train was an
easy matter. ANY good railroad man
can do that, but hustling among the
+ boys for money during a stampede Of
that kind is like looking for diamonds
in Florida sand.
Il travelled Tor Atlanta, and in due
course of time in Atlanta l arrived.
II was rather late in the season then
and | wore olly a light cotton suit
Of clothes. something like crash, only
1t was not of as good quality. | like
TO froZe to death. But | was game.
I banked up to the counter Of the bar
in the Klmbail House, then the swell
est thing in that town, paid for 20
cent drink out of the 81 bill which
constituted my assets. / walked out
feeling poor but lordly.
But my bad luck was yet to come.
Walking down one of the principal
thoroughfares of the town l saw sign
about as big as a barn. At the top of
the best show poster ever looked
upon were the words Wilson's Min
strels' Could not miss that. And
so l paid out CT the $3.50 1 had left
81 for a ticket In see the show and sat
in the dress circle. Still game, went
to the Kimball house and paid out
IS cents for bed and and had cents
for coffee in the morning.
Il couldn't make a turn in Atlanta
and decided to take a peep into ole
Alabam' just for luck. l landed in
one of the principal towns in that
state and got job. | was at work at
the telegraph key the next morning
with only roseate prospects ahead,
when what should turn up but the
entire vigilance committee of the town
to demand my immediate evacuation
of my job and my retreat out of the
city, giving me the privilege, of course,
Of reserving my arms. But l was
put next by wise one and would
not go. They could not force me to-
leave the city after once was in that
place, and made the point with my
head up in the air. Things looked all
eight then and the mayor patted me
on the back. You are game fellow
he said. I like your nerve. There is
something to YOU This as we were
leaving the Office 7of the mayor,
whittier he had wandered to discuss
my case. Continuing, the mayor said |
Just make yourself at home, old chap,
and don't worry about what anyone
says
That Mayor won me IN a hurry.
thought that last had a friend, |
and, OF course, when he invited me-
for drive that afternoon l accepted I
the invitation. l ought TO have caught
some of the significant glances as
we drove down one of the principle /
streets behind a beautffSH black span.
But was too much interested in what
considered my good luck TO heed such
as that. We drove rather fast, as I
rad indicated that I was fond of fast
driving.
Cali of a sudden, that Mayor jerk
ed the team to a full stop. Look
here he said, pointing to a fence;
that fence marks the city limits. Now
get out OF this buggy and don't you at
tempt 10 return to the city I might
have made fight of It had not three
or four pretty husky fellows showed
up from behind that same fence. I
saw 1t at a glance, and decided to
walk on. l had to walk to the next
where hired out to cook for
a railroad gang at $40 per month.
Right there staid until could return
TO good old Florida. Talk about your
refugeeing now. You heard nothing of
in those DAYS. II was shot
guns and knives without sympathy"