Skip to content
Sections
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
Dispatch Mobile Logo
Share
Subscribe
Login
August 8, 2022
  • QUICK LINKS
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
  • News
  • Columbus & Lowndes County
  • Starkville & Oktibbeha County
  • West Point & Clay County
  • Area
  • State
  • National
  • Business
  • Sports
  • High School Sports
  • College Sports
  • Local Columns
  • eEdition
  • Opinions
  • Local Columns
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Roses & Thorns
  • Dispatch Editorials
  • Obituaries
  • Lifestyles
  • Columns
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Transitions & Announcements
  • Community
  • Religion
  • Classifieds
  • Photo Galleries
  • Public Records
  • Building Permits
  • Marriages & Divorces
August 8, 2022
Dispatch Logo

Open eyes, open minds.

Home » Lifestyles » Columns » Shannon Bardwell: A little mystery

Shannon Bardwell: A little mystery

By Dispatch Editorial Board • October 4, 2011

 • 3 mins to read

Shannon Bardwell: A little mystery

Just down the road between Columbus and West Point, where the asphalt turns to gravel, there’s an opening in the trees revealing a peek at the meandering Tibbee Creek.

On any given day, during any given season, fishermen and fisherwomen can be seen sitting on overturned buckets or walking the creek’s edge just to wet a line. Those in boats, boaters, call them “bank-walkers.”

Fishermen on the bank cast in the middle of the creek and fishermen in boats cast up near to the bank. Hard to figure.

When temperatures hovered near the 100s, there wasn’t much fishing going on, but there was something else.

One day it appeared. A tall soft-sided red suitcase trimmed in black. Right at that opening to the creek sat the suitcase, like it was waiting for a bellman at some fancy hotel. The bellman never arrived, and for days the suitcase sat there tall and straight. Folks wondered about the suitcase, but no one touched it. Things aren’t like they used to be.

Then I passed by one evening and saw the suitcase had been violated. It lay sprawled open like a mouth when the doctor says, “Say ahhhh.” A tongue-like flap exposed the contents which from a distance looked like road maps.

Shortly thereafter, the contents were poured out on the dirt bank and the empty suitcase floated, opened, in the waters of the Tibbee. For days, the suitcase and spilt contents remained right there. Still no fishermen, boaters or bank-walkers came to fish.

Then late one afternoon passing by again, I glanced over for the suitcase and noticed it was gone but the contents remained. That day, I decided to stop and investigate.

newsletter

The Dispatch delivers the most in-depth, responsible journalism straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

There was no traffic on the back road; still, I left the car running to make my getaway. I didn’t want anyone to see me pilfering the red suitcase contents. In fact, I didn’t really want to pilfer, but I was curious what secrets the contents might reveal.

I have no way of knowing what may have been taken from the suitcase, or how it might have gotten there — though the airport is only 4 miles away. The suitcase could have arrived by plane, train or automobile.

Closer to the creek I discovered the missing red suitcase, it was now dark and completely submerged in the Tibbee.

On the bank I took a stick and moved the contents about. There were stacks of Sports Illustrated magazines, they were dried, faded and wrinkled from sun and rain. I did not see the “swimsuit” edition.

There was a beige brassiere; 38C, padded, fairly good condition, and a wadded up gray T-shirt. I pushed it around with the stick to expose a red logo and black lettering: “Air Control Engineering.”

The only certainty about the red suitcase and its contents is that, wherever it was bound, it will not arrive.

Shannon Rule Bardwell is a Southern writer living quietly in the Prairie. Her email is msdeltachild@msn.com.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

NULL

You can help your community

Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.

Subscribe

READER FAVORITES

  • Golden Triangle Theatre finds new home at old church

    By Robert Scott • 1 day ago

  • A new adventure in a familiar place

    By Robert Scott • 1 day ago

  • Photo: Barbershop gives free back to school haircuts

    By Robert Scott • 1 day ago

Popular

Two Lowndes men charged with child sex crimes

August 6, 2022

Man sentenced to 40 years for Propst Park killing

August 6, 2022

Community rallies around beloved waitress following house fire

August 6, 2022

Golden Triangle Theatre finds new home at old church

August 6, 2022




On This Day 2021

Bulldogs feeling acclimated as fall camp begins

By Theo DeRosa

Featured Podcast

The C Dispatch Podcast

Dispatch

Sections

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Submit a Tip
  • Terms & Service
  • Popular Content

Contact

Main Switchboard:

(662) 328-2424

Physical Address:

516 Main Street
Columbus, MS 39701

Mailing Address:

PO Box 511
Columbus, MS 39701

cdispatch.com © 2022 – The Commerical Dispatch

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT