Friday, October 30, 2009

News From Eddyville, Kentucky 1879

The Paducah (McCracken County) newspapers covered a wide area in western Kentucky and the Jackson Purchase. Among the events covered were social activities, vital statistics and a little gossip. The following items appeared under Eddyville Letter in the Paducah Daily News of Thursday, 24 July 1879.

Eddyville, July 21, 1879 – On Saturday night the Dycusburg string band came up and favored the young ladies of our town with some excellent music. They serenaded till 2 o’clock, and were laden with bouquets and cards.

Last week some of the machinery of Woods Bros. saw mill boat broke and one of the men employed there was struck with a chain and severely wounded. At last account he was improving, but still suffers considerably.

Quarterly meeting was held at the M.E. church on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday last as Mr. Tom Johnson (who lives in the “bend of the river,” ten miles from here) was on his way home from Eddyville, he was waylaid and shot. The party who did the shooting was armed with a double-barreled shot-gun. At the first fire he thought it was accidental, his horse receiving most of the charge (buck-shot). He spoke to the man telling him to look out he had shot him. The fellow then squatted and shot him with the other barrel, making wounds in his neck, breast and back. He was doing tolerably well this morning, though recovery is extremely doubtful. The shooting occurred within a mile of Mr. J’s house. It is hope that the damnable, cowardly assassin will be caught and think that Judge Lynch should preside and mete out to him his deserts.

Capt. Cantrell addressed the people here at the Court-house today. He is a splendid orator, is well posted on the issues of the day and is altogether a most entertaining speaker and an elegant gentlemen.

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