Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-06-27
From the Besfo,, .7fias.
JACK DOWNING s.er

ShCh DOWNtANG SarE.
We arc happy to----arIi, Nc do by the fol-
lowing letter, that the rumor which had obtained
general currency among US, Of Major JACK down.
iSe's death by drowning at Castle Garden, is not
true. The Major escaped, il appears, with only
ducking:-
NEW YORK, JUNE II.
Dear Dick IF your old friend isn't payin
dear for his curiosity this time, there's no
snakes in 'GinEy, as Juba Randolph used to
say. You must know I joined a party, as
they called it, upon Barksheere to 20 down
to York and see the President. Well, we've
been here near-about n week, but we seed
nothn OF him till this mornin. The city here
has been CROWN fuller and fuller, and AZ last
1t busted to-day, the foxes were so thick. But
To tell the story quite regular, I and uncle
Josh weslt up pretty early this mornin, and
paid four shAlins York TALL our nnepenecs
are shillins) for seats for aunt Keziah and
cousin Hannah. We saw the people runnin
after three men that were walkin, and uncle
josh said he thought that one might be Black
Hawk, he looked so black and fierce; SO I
thought I'D jist ask, and the foxes told me
twas the Committee from Boston, down east.
wen, we went down to Castle Garden 10 sec
the fun. The military were all a rantin n
bout, and little cock-o'-my-thumb soeer
KEEP rammin at ne with his bagnet TO keen
back, until ! could STAN it no longer--bu, un-
Gle Josh kept me in. Pretty soon the guns
KEEP hrin, aud the people huzzain, and three
or four tarnation great ste amboats came whiz-
zin and putin up TO the Gardens. Well. I
hurraed, and uncle Josh hurraed, and right
IN the middle ont, the band played, and the
old Ginerai came ridin over the bridge, with
his hat in hand, and his horse rampagin; IL
put me, for all the world, In mind OF the big
bible picture Of Death on the pale horse.
Well, hurracd agin, and uncle Josh he
OIL hat; and We forgot all about the little So
ger, and stepped right on him he sung out
TO the troopers, and down they conc cut
tin and slashin. Uncle Josh and had crowd
Cd right up agin little box they called a
ticket house, and some Of the people got A.
top ont. First thing I knew, over It went
smash. That kind started the bridge too,
and over II went. My eye, what q time.
thought the foxes on il had the Presidont,s
baggage, cause they said IL ,Eas the tail cad
oil hls suit--but found out twas the men
he hires TO do his writing, and makes the peo-
pie pay fort. Well, you see, the box being
pushed over, had n fair chance 10 see, and
there they were q founderin round in shoal
water, about up TO middle. The Gineral
looked kind o. sorry at first, but pretty soon
seed his eye begin 10 sparkle. Martin, said
he TO little Dutch built Teller that rode next
10 him, III be hanged IL the MAJOR liant In
for it, ] looked where he looked, and there
was little wizencd up old man splashin A.
bout among the mud and stones TO kill. lie
kept trying 70 get hold Of the other great men
about him. One Of them hit him : real TO-
mahawk poke and uncle Josh said he guess
ed ~ hcw that was Cass. At last the lIt,le
uan was hshed out, his face as red ~ a beet.
aud came up all drippin, 20 the PRESIDENT
An, ha, said the President, Major Down
Ing, ] believe now, you are dyed IN the wool,
Tor see your color doesn't wash OUT The
Iittle man kept fumblin in his pocket, and
told the President be had lost the speech
bed written for him. III be hanged, Dick.
ht want that Major Jack Downing, ,hat YOU
said was on to Washington the time YOU
vent on 70 get q patent for your machine
sor making dull speeches seem light--and
what you called your quotation sprinkler
Which was bought up by the members Of
Congress.
Wen, they kept fishing on 'em out, and a
more drabbleder set you never seed. So At
last they cleared out, and went right home
ior some 'lasses and water, 4 was 20 hoarse
hollowin and iaughin.
Yours, In affection,
PETER BIssEII..
?. ST. shall probably cone on and see
you.