The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-12-20
Juggling on the Mlssissippi.

was clear and low and the channel
catfish were hungry, it is very ezcit-
ing sport, which in my younger days
l often INDUCED in with the keenest
enjoyment, writes s. Z. Worrell in
Forest and Stream. But it is too
hard work for an old man, and our
great river has been so thoroughly
drsinod by the market men with their
bait and trammel nets, trot lines and
drag scines it promises very uncertain
Seturns now.
| was sc unfortunate as 10 bc
obliged to remain o month at Ham
burg, Calhoun County, Illinois,
small landing some tisty miles north
of St. Louis, containing Two trading
stores, whose chief sales were tobacco,
augar and calico, and about dozen
dwellings,. To this day this country
is designated as the "Kingdom Of
Calhoun" owing to it's isolated and
peculiar condition. While the sur.
rounding territory is very populous
and fertile, with all the usual facili.
ties Of business and intercourse, this
is isolated by being bounded on the
west and south by the Mississippi and
Illinois rivers.
1t js g long, narrow strip Of hilly
land, thereby united for the usual
agricultural products, sparsely popu-
lated by the old-timers, who have
slways exhibited the greatest antipa.
thy to the negro, not one OF VIII ON he's
been allowed to looste there, and they
even object to their travelling aoroes
their district. Formerly this country
was heavily timbered, and it's chief
products were cordwood and the best
oak barrel stuff and railroad ties that
were carried to the river landings and
boated to, St. Louis; but these trees
we're cleared out twenty-five years ago,
and, the hills being we'll adapted for
fruit culture, they introduced numer.
Gus orchards, and now export large
quantities Of our Den Davis or "Red
Missouri" applee.
Up to ten years ago she "Kipgdom
Of Calhoun" did not contain o teie.
phone, telegraph or express Office,
and today has no railroad, while the
boundary counties are netted with
them. Neither does it afford any
garo fishing streams or lakes. For
this reason, having nothing to do but
wait for the slow. tow Of heavily
loaded barge Of machinery rp the
river, I grew very weary until I
thought Of juggling, for which the
stage Of the Mississippi was particu.
larlp favorable ct that time.
It will be understood, as the name
implies, that this sport simpiy fe.
quires dozen or 30 Of corked jugs, to
the handle Of which is secured stout
cotton line about No. sc, three feet
long, and catfish hook baited With
almost anything from old meat to
spoiled cheese ripd.: Marketmen
generally uso tin cans &or dry, white
pine Aoata for this purpose. I found
this tackle at one OF the stores, aud
from that time until my departure I
supplied free Of cost all the town of
Hamburg with the finest channel cat
fsh, which, by, the way, 10 excellent
eating, especially FOR people who en-
JOY q buffalo or even Dutch" carp.
"German"S is too respectable name
for this. eontemptibie class of the
finny tribe. r. .... .,.-=....
TO illustrate the "details Of this
spors I: will give an acuount Of one Of
my mos. successful! trips. explaining
that for FAST aud comparatively. easy
weTk IL is best for one to be- accom-
panied by q helper; but not being In /
clined to the companionship Of any Of
the laahng natives, q briar root was
enough company. s $. :..55.:%
Taking my skif, I rowed up the
river about three milss; then, batting
the hooks, I dropped the jugs aoross
the channel atont twenty.five fest
apart and dropped behind, waiting re-
saits. III 1aam wsatth5T, ~hsa :hss IL
water is smooth, q one pounder will j
bob the floats |spreeeptibly, aud
largerone will :yauk them !: around
at o lively: rate, bus IL re-.
quires big dsh 20 sink them for moro
than hslf minute, 8 and: 5. another
shipg is / that. the game seldom es,
oapes- once hooked, they are there for
good. s =. IS: !. IS; 4 !. "
Thad only had time 20 pipe up aud
regain my wind ,aftsa tho arduous ex-.
eroiae Of. rowing until. tho fun oom,i.;
menoed. A jug bobbed, aud afser it
I went, pulling in about 9 three pound