What does ‘Dracula’ have to do with Harper Lee's ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’?

Bella Lugosi as Count Dracula. 

I’ve always gotten a kick out of defending the position that Harper Lee’s famous novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” is really a thinly-veiled horror novel. A close reading of the book backs up this idea if you pay close attention. Throughout the book, which climaxes on Halloween night 1935, you’ll find references to haints, hot steams, changelings and all sorts of other supernatural subjects.

One example of what I’m talking about comes near the beginning of the book, just a few pages into Chapter One. It’s early on a summer morning in 1933 when young Jem and Scout Finch hear something stirring around next door in Miss Rachel Haverford’s collard patch. Their first thought is that Miss Rachel’s rat terrier has had puppies, so they run to the wire fence for a closer look.

Instead of finding a puppy, what unfolds is one of the pivotal scenes in the book. It’s here that Jem and Scout meet Charles Baker Harris, aka “Dill.” Dill, who is seven years old, tells Jem and Scout that he went to the movies 20 times on the five dollars in prize money he won in a beautiful child contest.

Jem responds by saying that they don’t have any “picture shows” in Maycomb except for religious films sometimes shown in the courthouse. “Ever see anything good?” Jem asks Dill.

It’s here that Dill tells Jem and Scout that he had seen “Dracula.” Scout says that this revelation moved Jem to begin eyeing Dill with the beginning of respect. “Tell it to us,” Jem said.

Dill proceeds to recount the events of the movie, and Scout notes that “as he told us the old tale his blue eyes would lighten and darken.” When Dill finished the story, reducing Dracula to dust, Jem said the movie sounded better than the book. Again, a close reading of all this is very revealing.

 As indicated by his remarks, while Jem hadn’t seen the movie, “Dracula,” he had read the book. The novel, “Dracula” was written by Irish author Bram Stoker and was published in 1897. It tells the story of the famous vampire Count Dracula and how he moves from his castle in Transylvania to England.

Stoker’s iconic novel shocked Victorian readers when it was first published, and I suspect that Jem’s father, famous fictional attorney Atticus Finch, would have frowned on the idea of his only son consuming such lurid literature. This makes me wonder if Jem may have read an abridged version of “Dracula” or perhaps a version toned down for younger audiences.

The “Dracula” novel has been adapted to film at least 30 times, but my feeling is that the version Dill saw was the famous 1931 adaptation, which starred Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. Produced by Universal Pictures, it was released in theatres throughout the United States on Feb. 14, 1931. This would have been about two years before Dill met Jem and Scout.

In the end, I thought it was interesting that Jem, Scout and Dill bonded over “Dracula” in what was their very first meeting. I think it’s important to remember that Harper Lee consciously made the writing decision to portray this scene in exactly this fashion. Whether it was something she recalled from her childhood or not, it’s again more evidence that “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a thinly-disguised horror novel.

Samuel Calvin Cook was one of Wilcox County, Alabama's most unique, remarkable citizens

Samuel Calvin Cook

Today – June 8 – will mark 119 years since the passing of one of Wilcox County’s most remarkable men, Samuel Calvin Cook. Cook passed away at the age of 66 on June 8, 1904 at his home near Dry Forks. Cook was born at the “ancestral home” of his father, Daniel Cook Sr., at Possum Bend on Nov. 6, 1837, and he was buried in the Cook Ancestral Cemetery not far from where he was born.

To say that he was one of the most remarkable men to ever call Wilcox County home would be an understatement. After attending school in Wilcox County, he went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in 1859 from Howard College, which was then located in Marion. He began training as a lawyer in 1861 and that same year he married Miss Mary Harsell Gullette in Mobile.

When the War Between the States began, he joined Co. D of the Third Alabama Cavalry, a unit known as the Wilcox Dragoons. “He was delegated by his company to receive the beautiful silken flag, presented by Camden ladies to the Troop, just as it was leaving to defend our Southland,” according to his obituary. “With the Troop, he participated in many important battles, under the command of brave General Hagau and the fearless Joe Wheeler.”

Cook was later assigned to Wheeler’s staff and remained in the army until April 29, 1865. He arrived home the following month. When the Wilcox Mounted Rifles re-organized in the 1890s, Cook was selected to present, on behalf of Camden’s ladies, the “Silken Banner” to the descendants of the “brave men” of 1861.

Cook joined the Missionary Baptist Church early in life and served as a deacon in that church for many years. He was also a Justice of the Peace for many years at Black’s Bluff. In 1902, he was elected to represent Wilcox County in the State General Assembly.

He served as a trustee of the Second District Agricultural School in Evergreen. (This school later became Evergreen High School, whose mascot was the Aggie, a nod to the old days of the agricultural school.) Cook also owned a large farm, and his obituary described him as a horticulturalist, that is, an expert in garden cultivation and management.

At the time of his death, The Wilcox Progressive Era described Cook as having a “reserved disposition. He was gentle, but as firm as a rock when his conclusions were formed as to the right course to pursue. He was genial, and the visitor and stranger always felt their presence welcomed at his house. He was cordial. He was among our best citizens and his death will be sorrowful news to his home people and his friends in the state.”

At the time of his death, Cook had 14 living children, so he doubtless has many living descendants today. If anyone has any additional historical information to share about Cook, please let me know. No doubt there is much information left to be documented about this truly remarkable man from Wilcox County’s past.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 30, 2023

Mike Fields of Evergreen, Ala.

29 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1994

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rain between May 16 and May 22, 1994. He reported a high of 85 degrees on May 16 and a low of 49 on May 20.

It is announced this week that Jim Peace has begun his tenure as administrator at Evergreen Hospital. Peace replaces Gil McKenzie who was promoted to President of Gilliard Health Services.
Jim comes to Evergreen Hospital from a similar position in Luverne, Ala.
Peace is a 1984 graduate of Auburn University and brings nine years of experience in to help in the management of the 44-bed facility.
Peace is no stranger to the area. He is a graduate of T.R. Miller High School in Brewton and is married to the former Lisa Bowers of Evergreen.

Honor students for the graduating class of 1994 at Hillcrest High School are Beverly Brogden, Valedictorian, Terry Holt, Salutatorian, Barbara Walker, Tineka Moore and Felicia Watson. They will receive their diplomas next Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Brooks Memorial Stadium.

Brooke Walker has been named as the new Library Director at the Evergreen-Conecuh Public Library. Prior to accepting the position as Director at the Evergreen-Conecuh Library, Ms. Walker worked at Century Correctional Institution as the Prison Law General Librarian. Ms. Walker presently lives in Century, Fla., but is planning on relocating to Evergreen as soon as possible.

54 YEARS AGO
MAY 29, 1969

Sgt. William Michael Fields, 22, of Evergreen died on May 12 in Vietnam. Funeral services were held May 24 at 3 p.m. at Cope Chapel with Minister Billy Lambert and Rev. Douglas Newton officiating. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery with Cope Funeral Home in charge.
The body was escorted home by a good friend and former schoolmate, Walter Van Davis, who is now stationed in Vietnam. Pallbearers were Scott Cook, Scott Cox, Larry Ellis, Ronnie Hayes, Michael Covin, Kenny Harper, Wayne Tolbert and Mitchell Kilpatrick.
Sgt. Fields was graduated from Evergreen High School where he was an outstanding athlete and very popular student. He attended Jefferson Davis Junior College for two years before entering the Army.
He had compiled an outstanding Army record scoring as an expert rifleman during his basic training and drawing complimentary remarks from his superiors throughout his service. He had been serving in combat in Vietnam for the past 10 months.

Second lieutenants James Warren and Connor Warren hold the silver wings of an Air Force pilot. This is the goal of both brothers as they enter undergraduate pilot training with the U.S. Air Force. They were recently commissioned in the 187^th TAC RECON Group, Alabama Air National Guard, and will fly RF-84F Photo Reconnaissance jets upon graduation.

79 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1944

Pvt. Robert G. Bozeman Jr. of the U.S. Marine Corps, Camp Elliott, Calif., arrived Tuesday to spend several days leave here.

Carl L. Nall Dies In Action May 3: Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Nall of Repton received word recently from the Navy Department that their son, Carl L. Nall, S1-c, of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve was killed by action of the enemy on May 3. No details have been received.
Seaman Nall entered the service in February 1942 and had been on sea duty since shortly after completing boot training. He spent a 15-day leave at home in October. He had many relatives and friends in this county who are shocked and saddened by his untimely death.

Sgt. Frank Coburn Killed In Action: A telegram from the War Department was received Tuesday by Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Coburn announcing that their youngest son, Sgt. Frank Coburn, was killed in action recently. Sgt. Coburn was in Italy when last heard from and it is believed that he probably lost his life in the Anzio Beachhead area.

Lyeffion High School closing exercises began Sun., May 21, and will end Thursday evening, May 25. The combined class night and graduation exercises will be given Thursday, 8:30 p.m. The salutatorian’s address will be given by Earline Ellis. The valedictory address will be given by co-valedictorians, Mary White and Billie Roberts.

91 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1932

Mount Union Lodge Elects New Officers: At its regular time of meeting Saturday night, May 21, Mt. Union Lodge No. 541 of the Masonic order held its annual election of officers for the ensuing year.
The following were elected: W.R. Shaver, W.M.; D.N. McIntyre, S.W.; L.C. Shaver, J.W.; T.H. Guy, Treas.; P.W. Shaver, Sec.; P.S. McKinley, S.D.; R.T. Murphy, J.D.; J.D. Hyde, Tyler; C.A. Smith, S.S.; J.R. Murphy, J.W.; J.C. Reeves, Captain.

The annual drive for new members, as well as, renewals to membership to the Evergreen Public Library will be put on next week.
The library association for this year is composed of Mrs. Hugh Hagood, Mrs. Rufus Rushton, Mrs. C.P. Deming, Mrs. W.B. Ivey, Mrs. Burnie Jones, Mrs. H.L. Finklea, Miss Mary Henderson and Misses Pauline and Ethel King with Mrs. E.E. Newton as chairman.

The Conecuh County Chapter of the Red Cross has secured a car of flour to be distributed in the county to deserving persons who are in want and who are unable to purchase food in sufficient quantities for their actual needs.

Health Officer Advises Typhoid Inoculation: We want our people to know that it is time to safeguard themselves against Typhoid fever by taking Typhoid inoculation. Where two years or more have elapsed since taking the serum it should be repeated this year. We will be glad to hold clinics at any and all places where desired by citizens.
E.L. Kelly, County Health Officer.

96 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1927

S.S.A.S. Commencement Ends Wed. Night: The commencement program of the State Secondary Agricultural School came to a close Wednesday night, when diplomas were awarded to the 25 members of the senior class, after a very eloquent and forceful baccalaureate address was delivered by Hon. Lister Hill, Congressman from the Second District.
During the program Wednesday evening, Mr. (W.B.) Sexton introduced to the audience Prof. Paul Fisher of Abbeville, who is to succeed him as principal of the S.S.A.S. Mr. Fisher is at present teacher of Vocational Agriculture at Abbeville. He will move here about July 1.
Diplomas were awarded to the following students: Flossie Allen, Pauline Black, Ernestine Chapman, McLean Dreaden, Jno. Tom Gaillard, Addie B. Garvin, Stanley Fountain, William Hairston, Jno. Hanks, Lindsey Hart, Myra Hart, Jno. C. Holman, Lucinda Horton, Oris Jones, Mrs. Vernice K. Kelley, Joeffy Lundy, Reuben Millsap, Flowers Northcutt, Myrtle Quarles, Julien Relfe, Gladys Reynolds, Winston Stillwell, Entys Thomas, Hazel Williams and Helen Williams.

CONECUH HOTEL NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The hotel building belonging to W.K. Horton, which was formerly occupied by the Evala Hotel, has been completely overhauled inside and out during the last few months and is now open for business under the name Conecuh Hotel, with M.H. Crawford as manager.

103 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1920

Castleberry High School Ends Session: Castleberry, May 23 – The commencement exercises of the Conecuh County High School came to a close Wednesday with delivery of the baccalaureate address and the awarding of diplomas. Dr. J.S. Thomas of the University of Alabama delivered the address to the graduates. Four boys and six girls were given diplomas. They are Rosa Pate, Helen Albreast, Albert Smith, Dewitt Hancock, Edward Suddith and Forrest Castleberry.
Prof. Sellers Stough has been elected principal for another year.

B.M. Johnston attended the Confederate reunion in Montgomery last week.

School Commencement: The commencement exercises of the Agricultural school began on last Friday night with the school play, a four-act drama, presented by pupils from several departments.
On Sunday morning the commencement sermon was delivered at the Baptist church by Rev. Norman McLeod of Auburn.
On Tuesday night, the senior class exercises occurred and an interesting program presented.
The auditorium was taxed to capacity at most of these exercises to accommodate the crowds, reminding one of the early days of the school under the late Prof. Liner.

Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

USS Newport News

23 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 2000

Blacksher history published: J.U. Blacksher School students in Patricia McCullers’ community history class recently published a complete volume of the school’s history that documents the history of education in a small rural portion of southern Monroe County.
McCullers said it took two academic years of studying local history to put local events in the context of state and national history.
She said that she began the project with her students because she thought that a publication such as this would draw attention to the community history course and serve the community well.

Monroe Academy holds spring sports banquet: Monroe Academy’s Nathan Stokes was the recipient of the Bill Grant Memorial Award at the 2000 Spring Sports Banquet Thursday night.
In baseball, Bruce White and Chris Caldwell won the Gold Glove Awards; Justin Allred, the Highest Batting Average; Chris Majors, the Coach’s Award and seniors White and Triple Sawyer were named captains.
In softball, Jennifer Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player; Sara Lee won the Coach’s Award and Elizabeth Lane was named the captain.

Sandy Smith, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the 18 members of the Leadership Now class with graduation certificates last Thursday at the Monroeville Water Tower Conference Center. Those graduates included Phillip Allen, Brett Cox, Vicky Dunn, Harvey Gaston, Paul England, Mark Hendrix, Cindy Martin, Emilie Martin, Greg Martin, Jack McKnight, Mike Metts, Linda North, Johnnye Peacock, Allan Sizemore, Dennis Stabler, Bob Turk, Tim Waters and Jeff Vermilyea.

48 YEARS AGO
MAY 22, 1975

Cecil White dies Monday from illness: Cecil White, executive director of the Monroeville and Evergreen housing authorities and a former Monroeville city clerk, died Monday at Monroe County Hospital following a brief illness. Mr. White, 52, served as Monroeville city clerk for 10-1/2 years before becoming housing authority director in October 1971.
He was secretary of the Monroeville Planning Commission; active in the Monroeville Lions and Civitan clubs; treasurer of Monroeville’s York Rite Bodies; senior warden of Alabama Lodge No. 3, Masonic Order; and a member of the Abba Shrine Temple.

Johnny Bartlett, third baseman and ace hitter for the Monroe County High School Tigers for the past four years, has been chosen to play in the Lions all-star game set for Saturday in Mobile. He was chosen for the honor after leading the East to an 11-4 win over the West in a preliminary game in Jackson Sunday. Bartlett was the only Monroe County player chosen to attend, although Scott Higginbotham of MCHS was chosen as an alternate.

Storage for the state: The city-owned lot at the corner of Cherry Street and heavily-traveled Pineville Road in Monroeville has been used by the state Highway Department to store construction materials for more than a year. Mayor W.H. “Jack” Hines expects that usage to continue until widening of Pineville Road is completed; the start of that widening is awaiting completion of right-of-way acquisition. This tract was intended as the location of Monroeville’s new city hall, but that project has been dropped indefinitely because of the cost.

73 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1950

Diplomas were awarded Monday night during a special class night program at Frisco City High School. Members of the class receiving diplomas were Ralph L. Baas, Curtis H. Blanton, Isaac D. Byrd, Honnie Ree Chaudron, Thomas J. King, Frank L. Lynam, William H. Sawyer, Foye O. Stacey, Charles Walston, Doris Bodiford, Barbara Lambert, Odie Jo Petty, Betty J. Sims, Odessa Stacey, Verdie Stinson, Etheleen Stucky and William G. Byrd.

Monroeville Captures Sixth Straight, Defeating Evergreen 8-2 Thursday: Monroeville maintained its unblemished record in Dixie League play last week, trimming Evergreen 8-2 Thursday night behind the effective five-hit hurling of left-hander Bill Hite.
For Monroeville, Grady Gaston and LeVaughan Hanks, with two hits each for five times up, led at the plate. Winning pitcher was Hite.
(Other Monroeville players in that game included Al Clenner, Robert Riley, Hop Stevens and Joe Tucker.)

Uriah Sailor Schedules Return To States May 28: Walter G. Ikner, boilermaker, third class, U.S. Navy, of Rt. 1, Uriah, is scheduled to arrive in Norfolk, Va., May 28, after a four-month cruise in the Mediterranean as a crew member of the heavy cruiser, USS Newport News. While in the Mediterranean, he was afforded an opportunity to visit many of the countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

98 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1925

County Superintendent G.A. Harris will leave early next week to continue his post-graduate studies at the University of Alabama.

EARLY COTTON BLOOM: The first cotton bloom of the season was brought to The Journal office Tues., May 26, by Mr. F.H. Melton, one of the most successful farmers in the Monroeville area. The stalk on which the bloom appeared had 17 well developed forms, and the bloom is two weeks earlier than last season. Mr. Melton has four acres of cotton planted early and reports the condition and prospect the most promising in his experience.

DEATH OF T.L. GRIFFIN AND WIFE: Mr. T.L. Griffin and his wife died at their home near Franklin last Friday under peculiarly sad circumstances. Both had been stricken with pneumonia some time before and the one was unable to give attention to the other. When the physician was called on Friday, he found that Mrs. Griffin had passed away unknown to her husband. Mr. Griffin succumbed a few hours later. Two small children survive them.

SENIOR CLASS ENTERTAINED: The Monroeville Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, delightfully entertained the Senior Class of the Monroe County High School at the lovely new home of Mrs. R.D. Hendrix, secretary of the Chapter, on Friday evening of last week. Numerous games were enjoyed, after which gift packages consisting of dainty silk handkerchiefs for the girls and pocket combs in leather cases for the boys were distributed, each bearing a suitable sentiment read by Miss Benie Carter.

123 YEARS AGO
MAY 24, 1900

A most deplorable tragedy occurred near Carlisle on Wednesday night. A son of Mr. Sam Simmons was sent by his father on some errand to the house of a man living on the place. The young man, thinking to have some fun at the expense of the man, put on a fantastic masque and presented himself at the cabin. The man in his fright at the startling apparition, seized his gun and fired, the whole charge taking effect in the body of the unfortunate young man, death resulting in a short time. The parents have profound sympathy in their distress and grief.

Col. B.L. Hibbard and Mr. J.S. Harrengton attended a picnic at Pineville Friday in celebration of the close of Prof. Dale’s school. Three gold medals were awarded for general excellence in the respective grades, the successful competitors being Misses Jennie Stallworth and Jennie Andress and Ivey. The medals were delivered with an appropriate speech by Col. Hibbard.

Mr. G.A. Tuthill of Claiborne was here Wednesday in search of a pair of mules that strayed from his place a few days ago.

Mr. George W. Salter Jr. of Evergreen stopped over en route to Selma and spent Sunday with his brother, the editor of this paper.

Kempville, Ala., May 21, 1900 – Editor Journal: Please say through The Journal that the examination of teachers will be held at the courthouse on the first Monday in June, beginning at 10 o’clock a.m. No teacher will be allowed to take the examination who is not present at the opening. – C.W. McClure, County Superintendent of Education.

JONES MILL: The Bear Creek Mill Co. is extending its log road in Wild Fork.

Knight family's Wainwright garden is a sight to behold

Denver Lett and Katherine Knight.

I got the chance to have a nice visit with Robert and Katherine Knight last Thursday afternoon at their beautiful homeplace at Wainwright.

Robert is widely known throughout the county, especially in law enforcement circles. He has served as a county constable for years and was even named the national constable of the year in 2009. Most county citizens have likely encountered his friendly smile at the front door of the county courthouse, where he works two days a week.

A week or so ago Robert asked me to ride up to his house on County Road 17 to see his wife’s garden, an offer I couldn’t turn down. I’d been to their house several times before, but I hadn’t seen Katherine in years. You can search Monroe County from Hybart to Little River, and you will be hard-pressed to find two finer folks.

I pulled up in the yard around two o’clock, and Katherine greeted me in her front yard, which is filled with blooming flowers. Close on her heels was her grandson, eight-year-old Denver Lett. I learned that he is a good student at Monroeville Elementary School and a topnotch outfielder in the Monroeville YMCA baseball league.

Robert joined us as Katherine gave me a tour of the grounds, showing me rows upon rows of collards, butterbeans, peas, peppers, watermelons, tomatoes and a variety of other vegetables. They also have a chicken coop containing half a dozen yardbirds as well as pens of rabbits and raccoons.

What makes all of this remarkable is that Katherine has no legs. Both of her legs were amputated in 2009 due to diabetes, but that doesn’t slow her down. Now, she gets around her yard just fine in a motorized chair.

“When I hear someone make excuses, I just don’t want to hear it,” she said with a smile. “You can do whatever you set your mind to.” One of her favorite verses in the Bible is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Katherine explained that she uses a long-handled hoe as a plow, dressing the rows of her garden, planting and weeding. She said that every time she puts a seed in the ground, she puts it down in the Lord’s name and says a little prayer. “Ask and it shall be given,” she said.

Robert and Katherine have been married since 1965, and Robert admitted that he doesn’t have to help his wife much with the garden. He said she pretty much does it all herself. He jokingly said that his father broke him of farming decades ago during a comically stressful venture into cotton farming.

We eventually made it back around to the front yard and talked under the shade trees for what seemed like a long time. Denver was darting in and out of some bushes not far from the blacktop, and Robert warned him that snakes were on the move.

Before leaving, Katherine loaded me down with a sack full of small pumpkin pies. They were in tiny pie pans, reminding me of the shiny pans that my Granny Stacey used to hang in her garden to keep the deer away. These delicious, homemade pies are one of Katherine’s specialties, and they have made their way into the hands of many prominent county officials over the years.

Eventually, I had to go, but on the ride back to the newspaper office, my thoughts returned to Robert and Katherine. As the aroma of those pumpkin pies filled the cab of my truck, I thought about the fine example the Knights set for the rest of us. No doubt, if the country had more good, God-fearing folks like them, we would be so much better off. 

Prominent Wilcox County citizen Edward Nathaniel Jones Sr. passed away 106 years ago in 1917

Army officer E.N. Jones Jr. of Camden

Tomorrow – May 26 – will mark 106 years since the passing of one of Wilcox County’s most prominent citizens, Edward Nathaniel Jones Sr.

It was on May 26, 1917 that Jones passed away while under treatment at a Birmingham hospital. Jones was 79 years old at the time his death, and he passed away “after a long and useful life worthy of himself,” according to his friend, Solomon Bloch, the editor of The Wilcox Progressive Era. Bloch described Jones as “a good man, father, friend, neighbor, citizen, Democrat and high-toned patriot.”

Jones was born in Brunswick County, Virginia on Sept. 12, 1839 to J.C. and Mary A. Jones. They moved to Alabama in 1845, and Jones grew up in Camden. Jones was married twice, once to Mary Ellen Blanchard and later to Mollie Beck.

Jones, even before the War Between the States, worked as an attorney in Camden. According to Bloch, Jones “had the highest regard for professional ethics and could be counted on at all times to maintain the best ideals of the profession. He was absolutely fearless in the discharge of his duty, always ready to give his best talent to the cause of his client, but never fighting his battles in an underhanded nor questionable way. If he could not win fairly and honorably, he lost without a murmur.”

One interesting incident connected with Jones’s legal career involved a shooting in Camden on Jan. 23, 1897. Jones and a man named P.M. Horn got into a “difficulty” over litigation that was pending in the Wilcox County Probate Court. “In the encounter between these well-known gentlemen, Mr. Horn was shot in the face, which was followed up by another shot said to have been fired by D.B. Jones, son of Col. Jones, which took effect in Horn’s head, so disabling him as to terminate the difficulty. Mr. Horn’s wound it is feared is quite serious.”

Despite my best efforts, I could not determine if Horn lived or died. As best that I could determine, nothing else was reported on the incident in the Camden newspaper. Like Jones, Horn was a prominent attorney in Wilcox County in the 1890s, and my gut feeling is that he must have survived the shooting.  

Another interesting incident connected with Jones occurred in March 1905 when he became the first person in Camden history to ever receive a cablegram. Cablegrams, which first came about in the late 1860s, were messages sent via underwater cables. The cablegram sent to Jones was sent to him by his son, U.S. Army Capt. Edward Nathaniel Jones Jr., from Honolulu, Hawaii – 2,089 miles from San Fransico, California.

From a researcher’s point of view, one mysterious period of Jones’s life came during the War Between the States. He would have been 22 years old when the war began in 1861, which would have meant that he was of prime fighting age. Despite my best efforts, I could find no records showing that he ever served in the war. Perhaps some disability prevented his service or perhaps he held some position that excluded him from service.

In the end, Jones’s funeral was attended by a large crowd and was held at the home of his son, P.E. Jones. The Rev. H.W. Wallace conducted his funeral, and his pallbearers were a “who’s who” of prominent Wilcox County citizens. His pallbearers included Editor Bloch, W.A. Primm, R.L. Spurlin, W.A. McDowell, F.B. Dexter, H. Vandevoort, W.J. Bonner and W.R. Alford. Burial was in the Camden Cemetery.

Singleton tells of DeSoto in the aftermath of the Battle of Maubila

DeSoto 'discovers' the Mississippi River.

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “DeSoto’s army injured in battle,” was originally published in the June 2, 1977 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I have been asked to follow up last week’s column on DeSoto’s plight and pass on to my readers some of the events that confronted him after the Battle of Maubila.

Although DeSoto’s party won a great victory, if one would call it that, over the Indians at Maubila, he also suffered much that he and his army never recovered from. Many of his followers were severely wounded – wounds that needed good medical attention and weeks of rest and recovery. But this was not the way fate had planned the stage.

DeSoto’s party stayed at the village site of Maubila for eight days. There were 1,700 dangerous wounds among his followers that needed immediate attention. It was often that a soldier had a dozen severe wounds, such as barbed arrowheads embedded in his flesh.

All of the surgeons had been killed during the battle except one, and he was unskilled and slow. As I stated last week, all the medical supplies had been destroyed in the battle.

Fat, straw, leaves

The slightly wounded administered to the more seriously wounded. The bodies of the dead Indians were opened up, and the fat obtained from these was bound to the wounds with clothing of the men who had been killed.

Many pushed straw and leaves into their wounds to try and stop the bleeding. Some went mad with pain and fever. DeSoto himself had several serious wounds. One of these, about the head, was thought to be why he was never again completely competent.

Ships awaited him

Prior to the Battle of Maubila, DeSoto had received word that his ships awaited him along the coast of what is now Florida. These ships would carry him back to Spain and recovery for most of his army. But he still envisioned the fabled Seven Cities of Gold in his fevered mind.

As his condition grew worse, the thoughts of fabulous riches dominated him more. So instead of turning south to his ships, he took a northward course. On Sun., Nov. 18, 1540, DeSoto gave the order that any man who disobeyed the order to turn north would be killed.

His route took him through what are now Clarke, Marengo and Greene counties. High on the chalk cliffs overlooking the Black Warrior River, he paused at the village of Cabusto and rested.

The news of Maubila had rushed like wildfire ahead of DeSoto’s party. Most always, he was met by opposition. DeSoto began to have periods of deep depression, followed by a type of severe shaking of the body and fits, as they were called. The dreams of gold became an obsession, and he pushed ever onward seeking these imaginary riches.

In May 1541, DeSoto and his party reached the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. He was the first from the outside world to see the great river.

After a year of wandering over what is now the state of Arkansas, he and his party returned to the “Father of Waters,” the last of May 1542. Here, while trying to construct two ships that would carry the remains of his army to Cuba, he fell gravely ill with fever.

Said farewell

After appointing a leader to take command of his army, he said farewell to his officers and men.

Then he closed his eyes in death. He was the first to behold the river – and the first to close his eyes in death upon it, and the first to find a grave in its deep and turbid waters.

Thus ended the saga that began that fateful day in October 1540 by the rushing waters of the Alabama near Claiborne town.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)