Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-07
From Fiint's Western Review, for July.
MIKE FINK, THE LAST OF THE BOATMEN,

the pool of oblivion, will remsm ber the vivid
and admirable portrait Of Mike Fink, the las
Of the boatmen. People are accustomed. In
reading such tales, to think them all the mere
fa,v web fabric Of 6ction, thai, probably, no,
ont in hundred Of The readers Of tina story,
imagined for moment. that it gave, as tar as II
went, a most exact and faithful likeness Of an
actual parsonage of flesh ard blood, once well
known on the waters, and now no more. we
are Obliged TO omit some strange curses, AM
circumstances Of profanity, and aroSity, though
they seemed necessary 10 4 full deye'opemeht
Of character, which il cannot be supposed Tor
q moment we exhibit with any other view inah
10 show the monstrous anomalies oil The hn'na"
character under particular circumstances, as
DR. Mitchell would show horned frog, or
prairie dog, in relation 10 the lower ANIMALS -
The mos eccentric and original trsi, IN his
whole character was the manner in which h
subjected his ehsrs annie, when he doubted her
fidelity, TO rife shot test, similar TO those
hereafter described. We are compelled 10 o.
nit the arecdole altogether. The following
addsndd to the sketch, given IN the Western
Souvenir are furnished US by valued coIrespon
dent al ST. Louis. He has them, as he informs
US, from an in,elligen, and respectable fur ira
DEF, who has frequently extended his p"regri-
nations beyond he Rocky mouoI aims and who
wac 10 start he day after our correspondent
wrote for Santa Fe, in New Mexico. Our cor
respondent assures US. that he gives the &C
count of this gentleman, touching the ex ranr>
dna.y Mike Fink, nearly III his own oIds.-
We only add, tha, we have followed his exam
Die, in the suDjoined; in relation 20 the narrative
Ms 6rothers, &c. stiI reside. lie had but 1T,
lie knowledge of leuers, especially Of their
Sounds and powers, as his orthography was We
ry bad, and he usually spelled his name Mich
Phins X, whisI his father spelled il with an +.
When he was young, the ~itchery whi h is
In the tone Ut wooden trumpet, called river
horn, formerly used by keel and fiat boat aa-
vigators the western Waters, en,ranced the
soul Of Mike while yet boy; and he longed 10
become boa'maD. This soon bec anne his
ruling passion; and he served AZ boa;man on
ihr Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and tier tri-
bu'ary streams, which occupation he pursued
until this sor, Of men were thrown Out Of EN-
Payment by Tie general use Of Steam boats -
When Mike first set foot on q keel boat, he
Gould mimic all the tones oil trumpet, and he
longed to go to New Orlsans, where he heard
the p opie spoke French, and wore their Sun
day elolhes every day. He served out his pu-
pilage with credit When the Ohio was TOO
low for navigation, Mike spent mos, Of his
timesin the neighborLooi OF Pr, saurg, killing
squirrels with his rife, AMI shooting a a target
fer beef at the freQuen, Saturday shooting
matches, and company masters at the mii'ia
He soon became famous "as he hes, shot in
the country" aud was called 6irg-aR, and, On
that acc cunt, was frequently ,x.lnied from par.
ticipa,ing in marchrs for beet; for which tx
Clusiun he claimed. and Obtained, the ffih quar-
ter Of the beef, as it is allied, (he hide and tai.
low,) for his forbeaIance. His usual p ar,ice
was TO sell his fifth quarter to The tavern or
dram-,hop keeper for whiskey, with viii, he
treated every body present, partaking largely
himself. He became fond OF srrorg drink
but was aever overpowered by is influence
He could drink gallon of II in twenty -four
hours, without The effects being perceivabe.
His language was perfect sample OF the half
horse aud half alligator dialect of the then race
Of 5oatmen. He was, also, vii and on that
account he gained the admiration, and excited
the fears, Of all the fraternity Of boa,men for
he usually enforced his wi, with a sound drub.
bling, il any one dared TO dissent, by neglec,ing,
refusing to laugh his Jokes; for, as he used
70 say, he told his Jokes on purpose 10 be laugh
cd Al in good humored way, and that no man |
SHOULD snake light" Of them. The conse-
queoce was, Mike always had a chosen band Of |
augningphilosophers about him. An eye bung-
ed up, and dlapidaied nose or ear, was sure
10 win Mikes sympathy and fazor for Mike |
made proclsmation-"l am a salt river roarer
and love The winning, and as how I'm cnock
full of tight" &c; so he was in truth, for h.
had chere annie in every port, which he visit
ed, and had a circle Of worshppers around him
who would fight their deaths Gas they called
ill., for him. Among these, were two men,
Carpenter and Talbot, Mikes fast friends and
par ocular eouhd4nts. Each was mach for
tn other, in proves, in fight, or skill in shoot.
ing, for Mike had diligently trained them to all
these virtues and mysteries. Carpenter aud
Tsloo, figure hereafter. Mikes weigh, was
about one hundred and eighty pounds; height
about five fee, nine inches; broad round face,
N. AsAst features. brown skim tanned by sun