“THE RED LIGHT”

Bessie walked slowly and all alone, through the Zeigler mine camps at night, and she always had a product to sell, and she knew the price was right. But the hard working Zeigler coal miners didn’t know that Bessie was there, and while most of them slept off their drunks, the others seemed not to care.

Bessie needed some real fast money, but not a dollar trickled in, cause she couldn’t get the needed attention, from the hard working coal mining men She needed a way to let them all know, that her and her service was there, because she knew they got paid every week, and she felt she deserved a share.

So Bessie bought an old barn lamp, which was the color of bright red, “they’ll notice me now when they see this thing,” to herself one night Bessie said and then each evening after dark, she’d walk slowly through the camp, flirting with all the men she met, and swinging that old red lamp

When the miners would see the bright red light, they knew that Bessie was near, and she was there to make her some money, and to service the men out there. So each night Bessie made her money, as she did business on her back, and the red light became a very popular sight, along Dry Road and the tracks.

Soon Bessie was rich and prosperous, and had more business than she could tend, and she bought a small house in Crawdad City, and welcomed all the Zeigler men. She permanently hung out the red barn light, on the front porch of her new home, and from that night on in Crawdad City, Bessie was never alone.

This was the beginning of all “Red Light Districts,” and how it all begin, and it all started on Dry Road, by Bessie and the coal mining men.

Now you probably will not believe this tale, and ask “if this could be true,” but I heard this story from Bessie herself, and to believe it....is up to you.

Raymond D. Null

arden@mychoice.net

Many of the pictures on this site are located on books
and CD's located on the Zeigler's Memorabilia page

Thanks to those who have contributed pictures and memorabilia that is viewed on this site.  

Thanks to those who have contributed pictures and memorabilia that is viewed on this site.

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