Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02

lock. The scare given the passengers
and the loss Of time was usually the
extern; OF damage done,
1t was related To me by the genial
Captain Woo,ling th:it Il passenger
who had been rather bibulous and
sept while his boat was swept over
the dam. awoko when it had drifted
near the shore into shallow water,
and hearing talk about its going
over. thought he would save himself
by jumping out before II went over
and swim TO shore, raised his VIM
dow and jumped in the river TO find
himself in water tina; was only waist
deep. So he just waded back to the
boat and climbed in again amid the
laughter Of all on board.
II is with some hesitancy that
mention, cock fghting as one of the
James in tho tilncs OF which | write.
And while the better people frowncd
down upon this rather cruel form! OF
mothine would draw q crowd from ON,
all classes like Il regular chicken
fight when the word WAS passed.
ton names in Speaking. of these ar,
fairs. nor 10 desert be the fighting and
its results. hut It is Interesting 10 re-
call the mixture of rich and poor.
nigh and low, and good ana bad that
have seen Witnessing and apparent
| ly enjoying the tights between pure
games and their backing by some of
the hcst-known sports in the o!G Do
minion.
Conducted with Care.
Like bookkeeping, cock fChting
had 10 he conducted with proper pre-
cautions against surprise, arrest and
| conilscaiion, and for this reason these
fights We're staged in som" eccre,
| hall. big basement or some out Of
| The way barn. and those who saw
| them were there either by invita-
. . To-. Il. 4 q,
! for by someone in the inner circle
! though I have seen them in the open
and all the world looking on. OF
| course" tn" rourtl element was cx-
n"cted t" he there the Gamblers and
| horse -rHccrs were always there, but
the thing that SURPRISED mo mos.
| was the presence Of many persons
that I did not expect.
~ one Of these big contests I saw
lawyers, doctors. school tcatr"~s
good ones. but we all felt safe in the
condolences OF each other.
The history cf the foundation q
James River ard EanawEn ComDnny
and IL efforts in obtaining satisfac-
tory chrrt"rs. selling enough stock
ana building the canal would lie in
tcrestjng reading. hut too long and
is obtainahic from cGcr SOURCES I,
10 connect tive tide-water of the
lanes River with the waters NJ the
| ONO River by canal or rail" hut
tn" comuanv accepted the "harte,
and went 10 work VIII, - wll. and
November -. 1870. the president and
directors of tho James N1vcr ani
EnnewGr COMPANY lott RichmonT
IN the first nac'ict boat for lynch.
burg. the canal having been compln:
cd 10 that ro!nt. This was tho oc,
casion for great public rejoicing.
, 1t was estimated that "" trim 10
, tw""" the two places could hc rrad.
N thirty hours. and do not mini
II was ever made In much bette
time until the steam engine travele,
the tow path and the old horses wcr,
pens ioncd.
RrcniIs old Days.
To-day ! know OF no prettier it'll.
hit Of river scenery thar tho ,ri,
recall the panorama unfolding a!
] recall Inc panorma unfolding, a.
the caSvgoinE packet Flidcd alone
| tho curving banks of tho Jnmes. pass
! ing fine old c>aatcS and big pIanta
, | tions with fields Of waving grain
: with cliffs ovcrhanginc as we com,
IN sight OF the mountains. and tn,
$ country grows rugged. fain woui,
T. call back the time when coodly com
: many gathered on TIC deck OF tn,
s old packet boats and the driver
: norm blew unsteady for the "oper
J lock-" 4t