Hoyt Starr and Leon Milton took this trip with me. We were very fortunate to have Hoyt along. He seldom loses anything and is one of those guys that just happens to always have what you need. Hoyt had just purchased a new roll of film for his camera and sure enough just happened to have it with him on this adventure.

While I was introducing Leon and Hoyt to the tribe members, Hoyt said, "Hey Bouncer, take my picture with the Texas Cherokee Chief." I was just obeying orders and took the pictures. After the trip Hoyt brought the processed photos in for me to see, he said, "Now Bouncer, I furnished the camera and the film, and paid for the processing, now you can have the negatives so you can go and have copies made for you, but just remember where you got them, and make sure you don’t lose them."

I thought at the time that this was a good idea, and that I wouldn’t have to work too hard to complete this assignment. But in the meantime, either I have been sabotaged or someone took my negatives without my knowledge, because they are missing. My first thoughts were, "my, I am going to have to face Hoyt and tell him that I lost the negatives." I have looked in all of my junk, Jackie and Holly have also searched for the negatives, but we can’t locate them.

I had resolved that ultimately I would have to apologize and tell Hoyt that I had lost the negatives, and explain that I would continue to look for them and hope that they would appear. You see, I always try to make an extra copy of all my photos to share with others. I understand that the Indians of Onega some 160 years ago didn’t face this same problem of films and negatives that I am in the middle of, and no bow and arrow nor shot of moonshine is going to help me now.

So I have repented to the East and then to the North, and then to the West and then South and back to the East again. I look up again and say to myself, "Why?", then look down again.

But as I was crossing the street, this black limo stopped in the middle of the street and come around to where I was standing – there was Hoyt. I knew I had to fess up. I told Hoyt without saying hello that I had lost his negatives. Hoyt said, "Don’t worry about that Bouncer, I will bring you the original prints down and you can reproduce them."

My first thought was that my prayers had been answered right here in the middle of Main Street. The street talk didn’t last long, as Hoyt looked up at the left side of my face and shouted, "My word and heavenly days, what a hole in the side of your face. Bouncer, you are going to have to get something done about that, because this is serious, you have screw worms." My comment was "Really." ( I remembered my Daddy having a hog with screw worms and my Mama wouldn’t let him kill the hog for the table – she made him get rid of the hog.)

After a few seconds, I could feel the screw worms crawling around on my face. But before I could leave this conversation, Danny Mohon walks up and agrees with Hoyt. Enough said about the screw worms.

The Northern Cherokee Tribe district will feast on chicken and dressing at the regular meeting this coming Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Our district representative, Jackie Walp said that she and Doug will prepare the Thanksgiving chicken and dressing and for others who come bring a vegetable, cake or pie.

Now for some local old news printed 93 years ago:

On September 10, 1909 – Fire of unknown origin started in Dr. Bates’ office on the west side of Main Street in Aubrey about 11:00 o’clock Monday, September 5. Every wooden building on the west side of Main Street was destroyed and several brick structures were damaged. There is no fire protection, so the citizens fought the fire with a bucket brigade. Destroyed were: office and contents of Dr. Bates; the building occupied by Mullins and Connelly Grocery, their stock about ½ destroyed; Ed Boswell’s jewelry stock damaged by removal; Lanford and Caddell Dry Goods and Groceries, their stock damaged by removal and slightly from fire. This building was brick and damaged but not destroyed; the W.O.W. Hall, a two-story building, was totally destroyed. The lower floor occupied by Tom Mullins furniture stock was badly damaged; H. Ross Edwards’ Dry Goods were damaged by removal and water; Fred McCormick’s drug store building damaged and the stock slightly by removal; H. Looper’s grocery stock had slight damage by removal; Ed Coffeys’ barber shop; Reno Dyches drugstore damaged by removal; Geers, Allen and Wright Real Estate office, T.H. Isom’s blacksmith shop totally destroyed; Post office fixtures owned by Charles Pearson damaged somewhat by being removed from the building. The Old Opera House owned by Mrs. Ola Price was totally destroyed; Anderson Bro.s’ and Hodge’sWarehouse and frame building totally destroyed with contents consisting of implements, buggies and wares; J.A. Rhoads’ residence was slightly damaged. The building occupied by H. Looper and owned by Mrs. Ola Price caught fire several times but was extinguished. A number of barns and outhouses in the north part of town caught fire from the falling sparks but were all put out. H.G. Musgrove, Aubrey banker estimates the loss at between 20 and 25 thousand dollars.