The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-03-15

mainder lin little homes on stills
There were practically no sidewalks
and our best streets We're so muddy
that al tines drays and wagons were
mired' and deserted
The. "Shannes az House" on the Ok
IRENE point OF ne town was our first
hotel. The Defiance located about
I whore the gas house Is, was our first
theatre. The same location was used
by our union soldiers for drilling. Thb
first church was established in Al aud
was the Roman Catholic. The first
protestant church was the Presby
terrain and Henry Taylor. respect
able, dignifed man, and regular wor.
shipper there, was or very first col
tored inhabitant. Our early fire com.
| panies We're volunteer, among which
were the Little Arabs, "Hibernians'
and "Deltas.' They were splendid.
Woodworking men and composed Of
our best citizens. AT tap of the alarm
bell. they sprang from their warm
beds, rushed through the snow or
slush and went to- the rescue OF all
property 'as If II were their own "A
Up and down the long flights of
steps they dashed. carrying their APP
paratus with Them, INSTEAD of being
carried themselves as Is being done
now A brave and we'll beloved people
they were, among whose names. that
OF Jack Winter father of ex-Mayor
Claude Winterl had an honored place.
Our first school house did not get
here as. soon as it should and is the
one on Eleventh street called the
"Cireeey"
Early in our history vie had brass
band which was composed of real
musicloyers who were also genial
friends and neighbols They often
serenaded us. wakDeu us from troubled
dreams and mosquito fights, to sounds
of harmony and delight. This. band has
al least one representative among us.
In the person of r. P. Robbins.
AS to politics, | think in the early
days of Cairo, the Democrats quietly
led everything. but after President
Lincoln's nomination, politics were
very feverish remember an entertain,
meHt where we all cast votes for our
favorite candidate Miss Jenny Sloo. |
(sister of Mr. Tom Sloo, of The Cairo |
postoffice) and myself were the only
Republicans present. But we were
sufficiently brave and patriotic to |
avow our principles then and ever
after and endure the criticisms of our
companions.
When the rivers were up the
greater part of our town was covered |
with water Lake Edwards" which |
included the place where this beauti- |
full bnilding and grounds are was at |
times miniature Venice. People rode /
design, such as old wooden wash tubs,
pieces of sidewalk. boxes, dugouts,
skiffs. and little boats.
OF moonlight nights, The young peo-
oIe would take their guitars to &C.
their songs aud the scenes
md sounds we're really very romantic
md enjoyable,
For awhile steam care ran the en-
ire length of eighteenth street car
wing earth ia strengthen the lcyeos
nd M iii streets. IN high water time
cople living above .Eightccnth street
ad to 80 down town in skiff, or
'alk on narrow. slippery little path |
n the levee, with a long line of {
eight cars on CDe side of them and I
lie depth of fifteen or twenty feet Of
pc water on the other; and life en- /
angered by both @
Although self-pfaise Is not com d
our local papers had to do [
good deal OF II for Cairo, otherwise $
lere would be no praise As trump s.
lrd, and advertisement, they used to &
iblish almost daily this fact: Cairo c
+ situated at the confluence of the II
70 mghtiest rivers in the universe IL
course that was something to be n
'oud Of but fa;' more important II
ct Is, that Cairo is situated there c,
From its appearance after the lcvee II
oke we still had two OF the 3
ightiest rivers in the universe" but p
ny little of anything else. One had u
use graphing hook TO discover dI
y possessions bur water. And half 81
etime there was always that return CT
2 menace TO life and property. that fl
led the stoutest hearts When the d.
g waves of the Olio were tapping c.
er the railroad tracks down town, m
d the roaring Mississippi was only p
Id at bay by narrow strip of mud. =
ings looked gloomy. Some of us
ght have been glad TO exchange our
aluable city lots for a yellow corn
Id. rocky hillside or modest canal
fact for anything iwth an assured II
lndation. After these frequent in
ares and just "a our nerves began n
settle a little. some one would rush r,
with the latest news of that weak d,
ice in the levee: place never quite d
,ated. but always on hand Every
in. woman and child was secretly
bued vita its terror. when We
WED the highest places in the levee =.
d felt their powers OF protection. a
dden sickening recollection of that G
AK place, made our hearts sink. We
ow that for practical purposes. a,