AR-OLD-NEWSPAPERS-L Archives

Archiver > AR-OLD-NEWSPAPERS > 2001-11 > 1006378185


From: "Fran Warren" <>
Subject: [AR-OLD-NEWS] March 23, 1889 Van Buren Press
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:29:45 -0800


Van Buren Press (Crawford County, Arkansas)
March 23, 1889

A CONDUCTOR IN TROUBLE

Mr. M. C. Wallace is responsible for the following:

"Some weeks ago Conductor Bill Woolum, who is as popular a railroad man as
runs into Fort Smith, was up in the territory and met an Indian who had in
his possession an immense bald headed eagle. The Indian wanted to sell his
bird and told the conductor that the bird of freedom was a fine singer and
was given to warbling national airs after he became familiar with his
surroundings. The railroad man recognized that an American Eagle that could
discount a mocking bird was a great bird, and made a purchase at once, and
bore the bird home to his wife in triumph and informed her that it would be
a fine singer as soon as he became acquainted with her. He had a cage made
to order, and the bird placed in it, and then he went his way rejoicing.
Returning home in a few days his wife complained that the bird refused to
sing and confined his energies to catching and devouring chickens that came
too near his coop. The owner said he would fix him, and called out his fine
setter and turn him in the cage to teach the feather chicken eater some
sense. In about two seconds the dog came out minus an eye and part of his
tail, and now Mr. Woolum swears that if that bird doesn't sing pretty quick
he will give him a dose of dynamite and then hunt up that Choctaw who sold
it to him and give him a licking- if he can. -Fort Smith Times.

Mr. M. C. Wallace died very suddenly Wednesday morning and "Conductor Bill
Woolum, with "all aboard", pulled his train out for "no man's land" where
the American Eagle screecheth not.

Fran Alverson Warren







This thread: