The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1909-04-22

But that, essential as it was often
times, was not the chief function of
old Jordans fiddling. For a system
of signals well conned and per-
fectly understood between his rascal
master and himself, he informed Jim
MCGOWAN by his playing of the cards
held by his antagonists.
This was really the secret of Jim
McGowan's wonderful success at
cards. BY hook or by crook he al
ways managed to place Jordan on
the side OF the card table opposite
himself, and there, as the negro
piled his bow, he was silly but assidu
ously reading the hands held by Jim
McGowans' opponents in poker; Will
by modifying the accent of his
notes as he played he signaled the
willy Jim an accurate reading of
the hands he had to beat.
So Jim MCGOWAN throve and roved;
and SO Jordan MCGOWAN grew famous
as fiddler, and was known through
out the length and breadth of many a
Middle and East Tennessee county
Nor did their travels cease at the
| State line. Into Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi, and sometimes even up
through the bluegrass regions of old
Kentucky, the pair strayed and playe
until along about 1850-when Jim Nc
Gowan sat in a game In which old
Jordan couldn't help him; for his
! antagonist was Death, and the stake
for which he played was not the body
of a negro slave, but the life of old
Jim MCGOWAN himself. Jim Nc
Gowan lost, as every gambler must
lose soon or late; and his playing
or at least the earthly record of his
playing ceased for all time.
When he realized that death was
about to call his hand, and knew that
, MCGOWAN called old Jordan to his
bedside.
I'm going to die, Jordan he said.
The old slave fumbled his hat in
his hands and wrinkled up his brow
in sympathy.
''Shaint ali play fur yur, Marse
Jim?" he asked uneasily. ...
The dying gambler rolled his eyes
| full on him and held out his hand.
NO, Jordan; it's no use. | can't
held ON till morning"
He lay breathing heavily for severa
moments. Suddenly he spoke again,
painfully, but with grim Discriminate
you've been a good Old niger,
Jordan, You've made me a lot of
money I'm going to set you free.
Tell DIR. Gooch to come here a min
ute
The doctor came in, and at the
dying mans request drew up the
necessary papers. 1t was, perhaps
! the most strictly just act of the
gamblers life. He was dead within
AN hour after Jordan MCGOWAN be-
, came a free man.
Old Jurdan bore his new honor
very meekly. He had been treated
with marked kindness by Jonathan
Goodwin, and after few weeks of
rowing HE set his face toward Stew
arts Creek, arriving at the Goodwin
plantation late one evening.
"Marse Good'n, dey's a hl ole
empty cabin on yo' lam. down behind
de woods-lot. Amt nobody ivin' in
dat cabin, sab. Please, sab, kin l
move in dah?" he petitionei humbly.
Permission was gladly given, and
never a dance or merry making at
''de big house" from that day forth
that old Jordan was not there to add
! to the merriment with his squaking
fiddle He was welLbehaved old ne
gro, and as time passed ON Mr.. Good
win not only confirmed his right to
occupy the little cabin, but gave it
10 him outright-and added a dozen
acres of land to the gift.
There We're other negro musician
in the neighborhood of Stewards
Creek, and as the months rolled by
old Jordan gathered them about him
and in his own rude way trained the
to play together. The organization
was known as McGowan's Band, and
figured prominently in all the loca
gatherings and was sent for TO play
ait dances at Nashville and Chatta
nooga and other cities around about
A great deal of old Jordatn's music
was imprOvised. He composed rol
licking little airs which he played and
played again, and to which he gave
names. generally names OF people
whom he liked He was invited wit
his band to furnish music at a ball
given by William Pickett, ON the oc-
casion of the coming out of his
second daughter, Margaret, when the
arr known as Sally GoOdn' was
named.
Mrs. James S. Hicis CT Meadow
brook Farm, near MurfreesboTo, Ten
nessee, was then a. tiny girl in piIaS-
-.