The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
by w, j. HAMPTON.

1.-THE best known citizen in our
town at one time" remarked
Postmaster Tottenham of
Hayfield Center, a follower from the
period when a political worker didn't
have to pass an examination in grain
mar to hold office, was George II. Fer
guson. His real name was Thomas
Jefferson Biggs, but he had an uncle
named George II. Ferguson in the next
county that was such a -paregoric of all
the virtues that his nephew wanted to
make the name differently meaning in
our nelghborhood and I may say he
done 1t to the discount and discredt Of
the entire community, not to mention
his respected uncle.
He landed in our town first bringing
jag with him and nobody had ever
seen or heard of him before. In the
police court he give the name of George
II. Ferguson and when he had worked
out his fine he settled among us by that
name and we never knowed any better
till it was too late to call him right.
reputation as Fergy and Fergy stuck.
"He was a gambler and a souse and
keen cutter that used to NOW down our
people like hay and grass. our people
being some slow in getting the moss off
their backs. Fergy always had some
gold brick or other up his sleeve and he
was smooth enough to land it on a mar
gin that kept him out OF Jail. He'd get
in every now and then but it was only
from an overdose OF liquor, and some
way sometimes, so that didn't count so
much against Fergy as it might in a
w. c. T. u. town.
But it's long string that's got no
knots in 1t and once Fergy started
something that was too wicked for our
folks and they pitchforked him with an
indictment from the Grand Jury. Fergy
seemed to sense that the jig was up
with him at last and l never seen a
man take anything so hard. He said he
felt as If he had lost the confidence OF
the Grand Jury and the indictment was
reflection on his character. Most OF
US felt like he did about 1t and that hurt
his feelings too.
HE was out on bail furnished by his
rich and proper old uncle. who didn't
want any of his kinfolks to go to the
penitentiary If he could help II. One
day about a week before the trial was
to come off there was a big poltca
picnic Of all parties down by the lax,
and Fergy was there, but not lookinl
happy. He had spirit enough left
though, to try some OF his skin game
on the unwary and had gathered IL
about $40. But this didn't seem to ton,
him up much. Not any, but he got
drink or two somehow and tina
livened him up and set his gamblln.
gait going.
"A lot Of young fellows was divins
off of a springboard and Fergy, watch
ing them and blowing as usual abou
what he could do offered to bet a dol
lar even that he could stay under waite
five minutes. Being some diver mysel
and knowing how short of breath
swimmer gets away from the air, ais,
being willing to make a dollar easy
though l ought to have knowed Ferg'
better i took him up before anybod!
else got TO him. Fergy said he'd got t,
have three trials and | was willing 70
him to have a dozen II he wanted tina
many, for / was certain of my dollar
worth OF Fergy's money
He borrowed bathing suit and i
about five minutes more he was on tn
springboard, looking as solemn as II
was going to a funeral, He made
smooth dive and all Of us watched tn
water with our watches out, In les
than a minute Fergy's head popped u