My verses about the ball are from Dillon Bustin, who picked up the song while he was living and collecting in southern Indiana. If my memory is correct, he could have heard part of it from one "Poss" Scaggs, an old riverman down yonder. Don't quote me on this, however, as my memory is not the most reliable thing I possess, and that source may have been for his version of "Shawneetown." I had thought that the "Lincoln and Abraham" verse also came from Dillon, but he assured me later that he had not heard that one. Now I can't remember where in the heck I got it! Your friend from Indiana could well have sung with Dillon, who left Indiana to become official State Folklorist of Massachusetts, until the budget for the job ran out. Folklorist, collector, songmaker, singer -- Dillon does it all, and very well.

Sandy