The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1921-06-16
MY RECOLLECTIONS OF
CLAIBORNE COUNTY
BY james F. MccaIeb.

ters, pilots and clerks. Robert a,
Owen, a bluegrass Kentuckian by
birth and Mississippian by adoption
in Claiborne county, was one Of the
famed clerks among thep ackets that
piled in the New Orleans and Green
vile trade This threw him in con-
tact with river characters and planta-
ton gentry. He was a strong friend
Of Captain r. Bixby, celebrated as a
pilot, and head Of the Anchor Line Of
boats that ran from ST. Louis to New
Orleans, but more as the preceptor Of
Mark Twain in learning the bends.
eutoffs and currents. Captain Owen
relates the story Of Mark Twain, the
river pupils, and Master Bixby, Blk
by was plotting the upper Mississippi
and took a liking to Mark Twain, who
was looking for the job Of cut pilot.
The future American humorist became
associated with Bixby, watching him
constantly at the wheel. Bixby wish
ed to go down for awhile in the salon
Of the boat and left Mark Twain in
the pilot house to guide the steamer
along the muddy waters. Bixby came
up to resume his duties at the wheel
and noticed that things were not
right He asked Mark Twain ''What
object were you steering by?n "What
fixed point?" again said Bixby. Mark
replied BY that COW, you see, yonder
way" "HeE, get out of here" from
the angered Bixby to his cub, "You
will never make pilot Thus clos
ed Mark Twain's connection with the
Mississippi RIVER, but, he was to make
i immortal in his characters and his
books.
The American Cotton Growers have
gone through many a crisis in the his
tory Of declining prices They felt
they had no educative force in the
press 10 give their side to the COM
mercial world. The American Cotton
Association sponsored "Teh Cotton
Journal, which was organized and
stock subscription taken. 1t was to
represent the cotton grower and It's
allied interest. Harnie Jordan, a
Georgia planter was made editor, and
Richard Cheatham, cotton clerk, who
sprung into mushroom fame at one of
the cotton convention, manager. This
publication gave hope of being a ho-
nanza publication, representing the
greatest farming industry in America
and patronage from that source was
enough to assure its success to the
stockholders. Claiborne County plant
ers subscribed to its stock "The Cot
ton Jorunal" started on wrong pol
icy in antagonizing "the cotton flu.
lures spectators and waging a edi.
torial warfare to put these men out
Of business by Congressional legisla.
tion. This caused the paper to de.
crease N advertising patronage anc
cir ulation. Business was going from
bad to worse and from worse to bank
ruptcy. The stockholders in the coun
/ ty called for a meeting at the Law
Office Of Hon. j McC. Martin to dis
cuss The eituation on Saturday, Ap
ril nth, 1909. There were ther,
James &. Allen, C. c. Goza, d. G
Humphreys, Major j. w. Watson, ]
McC. Martin and myself One pro.
posal was made chat we endeayor Il
get the Board Of Directors of the Cot.
ton journal to have G. II. Afford
County Demonstration Agent, editor.
in-chief under a reorganized plan and
that we stop the warfare on the cot
ton future dealers. | proposed that
we have one page Of the Cotton
journal under the editorship Of Har-
vie Jordan to lead the anti-futurc
side, and that We engage another edi.
tor 10 represent the future followers
This in my opinion would revive the
paper with rival editors on the ques-
tion. Again, that we put this news
paper corporation in the hands Of a
Vff4 4rfa hrr ts.efffssNt.,f.
name Of }. y. Allen, carrying IL on
with the hope of selling out some
day to some publishing company. But,
no, we did not care about putting any
more good money after bad. The up-
shot Of the whole matter was J. McC.
Martin was sent on to Atlanta. Geor-
gia to investigate for us. He went,
saw the plant, talked with Jordan and
Cheatham and found the big stock
holders in a mood to wind up the af-
fairs at total loss. On his return
home and report to US was not assur-
ing. Mr.. Martin said il was a finely
equipped plant, but too much kinpeo.
pie Of the Office we're living on exor-
bitant salaries at the expense Of the
stockholders and debts that had been
accumulated by inexperienced mana
gers IN the publishing business. How
ever, this gloomy account did not
damper my hope. ! still wanted TO
go on under a Federal Receiver in
the United States Court and have
Clarence Poe Of the Progressive Far
mer appointed receiver. If this had
been done the Cotton Journal might
have been yet in existence or would
have been combined with the Pro.
gressive Farmer, which a year later
swallowed other agricultural papers
Of the South. The little stockholders
are under the control Of the big stock
holders. They lpst And, the cot
ton farmers are still without the press
to give their side in the market and
distribution problems at that crisi:
and in this crisis.
John A. Shields, who served foui
years in the army Of Northern Vir.
ginia during the Civil War without {
1 furlough or sickness was gallant
private in the Fairview Rifles Of Clai
borne County under Captains JohI
Taylor Moore and William G. Mckee
yer. His company was attached Il
18th Mississippi Regiment, Posey
and Harris Brigade, and often sal.
that the Battle Of Spottsylyanii
! Court House was the hottest fight HI
was IN. General Lee lost the salien
angle At one time and wished to re
take t. He placed himself at tn
head Of the Mississippi troops Tn
Claiborne guards Of the 18th Missis
sippi Regiment cried out Genera
Lee to the rear Private Shield