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scale fish and small catfish. We always had plenty good fresh fish to eat.
?In May, 1915, we started out from Yellow Lake below the town of Pearl River, Louisiana, and worked our way up West Pearl River to Holmes Bayou. Holmes Bayou was always a tough place to keep open for navigation but that year we got through it in only a few weeks. The current there was always swift. At Dog Head Bend a skiff was run ahead of the boat to fasten the boat chain around any snag or tree in the way. Cleve Seal was the oarsman and Bill Smith the tong man. In the fast current Cleve had trouble keeping the boat going upstream. Bill was standing in the prow of the boat with his pipe in his mouth as usual. Cleve gave a quick strong jerk with the oars to hold the boat on course. When he did Bill toppled head first into the water. He came up with his pipe still in his mouth but enraged at Cleve, saying, I believe you did it on purpose.? We like to have had a fist fight but older and cooler heads took charge and kept down trouble.
?We had been notified that the government inspector would come on board at the Wheat Field Cutoff. We tied up there and waited for A. K. Mayfield to inspect the boat. As there was plenty water in the river we made good progress that season and went on up to Columbia before turning back.
"One time we got stuck on the Warren Sandbar. We had to turn the boat around, put the stern wheel upstream and use it to pull the boat loose.
?On Thanksgiving eve, Captain Put Miller told Bill Smith, ?Let?s have turkey for dinner tomorrow.? Bill took his gun and went out into the swamp. He had not been gone long when we heard one shot. In a short time Bill walked up with two fine young gobblers. The whole crew gathered around to greet him and to ask how he had gotten two turkeys when they had heard onlv one shot. Bill explained that the two young gobblers had gotten into a fight and he shot as they put their heads together and got both of them.
?On rainy days and on Sunday when not near enough to attend a church and we could not fish or hunt, Uncle Dan Seal,
the mate, would get out his fiddle and play it. Cleve Seal knew well how' to beat the straws. Uncle Dan would say ?Cleve, get vour straws and let?s have some music.?
? 1 he snag boat ceased to operate on Pearl River in 1916. Out of the crew of 1(5 men on the Pearl when I was there only four are now living.?
I have not been able to find out how long the snag boat stayed on Pearl River but it must have been 50 to 70 years.
35 Miles to Everywhere
Some years ago I went on a trip to Avera, Mississippi, in Green County to see a man.
I asked a gentlemen of that community how far it was to Hattiesburg. He replied, ?35 miles.?
?How far to Waynesboro?? I asked.
?35 miles.? wns the replv.
?How far is it to Ellisville??
?35 miles.? was again the answer to mv question.
?How far to Lucedale??
?35 miles.?
I began to wonder if he was making sport of me. I thought a minute and then asked. ?How far is it to Wiggins??
I got the same answer for the fifth time, ?35 miles.?
According to this citizen of that community it was 35 miles to everywhere. I never did check to see if he was telling the truth or pulling my leg. Sometime I think I?ll check up on it just to see.
A Remarkable Man?Asa Hursey, Sr.
A remarkable man lived in Pearlington from 1845 until he died in 1912. He was a self taught architect, draftsman, engineer
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