The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-12-26
A BKAG BOAT AND A BRAG CAPTAIN.
BY SOL. SMITH.

oodt;0WSH 1871 sue was regularly adVer-l
tised as the "fast running etc. Her regu-
lar trips from New Orleans 10 Natctez were
Usually made in from six 10 eight days; a
trip made by her in FIVE days was considered
remarkable. Avoyage from New Orleans 10
Vicksburg and back, iRcfuding s%toppages,
generally entitled the officers and crew 10 a
months wages. Whether the Caravan ever
achieved the feat of a voyage TO the Falls,
ILouisyille,0 ] have never learned; if she
did, she must have ''had a tine of itG!'
1t was my fate 10 take passage in this boat,
The Captain was a goodnaiured, e~asy-going
man, careful of the comfort of his passen-
gers, and exceedingly fond of the game of
6rdg.* We had been out little more than
five days, aud we were in hopes ofseeing the
bluffs of Natchez on the next day. Our
wood was getting low, and night coming on.
The pilot on duty ADORE, (the other pilot
held three aces at the time; and was just
calling out the Captain, who ''went 1t strong
ON three kings sent down word that the
mate had reported the stock ofwood reduced
10 half a cord. The worthy Captain excus-
ed himself to the pilot whose watch was be-
2op, and the 20 passengers who made up
The party, and hurried TO the deck, where he
soon discovered, by the landmarks, that we
were about half a mile from a woodward, he
said was situated ''rightro6nd yonder point.n
"Buf," muttered the Captain, II don't much
like to take wood of the yellow-faced old
scoundrel who owns it-he always charges
a quarter Of dollar more than any one else;
however, there's no, other chauce.o The
boat was pushed to her utmost, and, in a lit
lie less than an hour, when our fuel was a
bout giving out, we made the point, and our
cables were out and fastened TO trees, along
side of a good sized wood-pile.
"Hollo, Colonel! how dye sell your wood
this time2'
A yellow-faced old gentleman, with 4 two
weeks beard, strings over his shoulders hold.
ing UP 10 his arm-pits a pair Of copperas co,
lored l~insey-woolsey pants, the iegsof which
reached a very little below the knee; shoe:
without stockings "a faded, broad brimrneC
hat, which had once been black, and a pipe
in his ~moulh--casting a glance at the empl!
guards of our boat, and uttering a grunt al
he rose from fastening our '.spring-line, an
swered:
"iNhy, Captain, we must charge you tire
anda quarter TINS time.'
"Tbe Dip replied The Captain-(Cap
tains did swear a little in those days. "what'
the odd quarter for, | should like 10 know
You only charged me three as 1 went down.
"Why, CaPting," brawled out the wood
merchant, with aSsort Of leer on his yellow
counienance, which clearly indicated tina
lis wood was as good as sold, "Wood's ri
since you went down two weeks ago; be
sides, you are awar that you very seldor
stop going d0wn-when you're going vi
you're sometimes obleeged 10 give me a cal
becase HE currents against you, and there
10 other wood yard for nine miles ahead
andif you happen TO be nearly out Of fooe
whyr-
swell, well,m interrupted the Captain
swell take few cords, under the circun
s.ances"-and he returned 10 his game {
brag.
In about halt an hour we felt the Carava
ommence padding again. Supper was %
er, and | retlrea TO my upper berth, situate
alongside und overlooking the brag tabl
where the Captain was deeply engaged, ha
ing now the other pilot as his principal O
ponent. We logged on quiehy-and seen
cd TO be going at a good rate.
SLOW does thatwood burn?s inquired Il
Captain of the mate, who was looking on
the game.
"Tisn't of much account. | reckon a
swered the mate-''il's cotton wood, al
most of il green at that"
ssNelI, Thompson-(bree aces, agai
stranger-lll take that X and The sm;
change, if sou please-its your deal)-
Thompson, | say, we'd better take three
four cords at the next wood yard--it car
be more than six miles from here-{two &C
anda bragger9 with the age! hand ov
those VS.
The game went on and the paddles Ike
moving. At II O'Clock, it was reported
The Captain that we were nearing the wo,
yard, the light being distinctly seen by Il
pilot on duty.
"Head her in shore, then, and take in S
cords, if its good-see TO 1t, Thompsor,
can't very well leave the game r%low--its g
ting right warm! This pilots beating US
TO smash"
The wooding completed we padded
again. The Captain seemed somewhat ve
ed, when the mate informed him that I
price was the same as atthe last wood-ya
three and a quarter; but soon again
came interested in the game.
From my upper berth There was no st;
rooms then) | could observe the moverneI
Of Tie players. All the contentious appe
ed to be between the Captain and the Pile
(ihe latter personages took it turn and IT
about, steering and playing bragg one
them almost invariably winning; while
two passengers merely went through