Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-04-30
A CANAL

On an evening IN the month of July, 1886,
L embarked at lpckport, iii company with
some fourteen passengers, ON board an Erie
Canal packet, destined for Rochester. 1t will
BE- remembered that this was during the great
migrating period of the United States, when
all nations and Wrsuits had representatives.
on our principal Myelling routes. Our party
was no sooner aboard than the bold Captain
gave the word: the horses were got under
weigh, the feather set, and all hands called to
pick out their sheli-a siX-ioot by-one conve-
nience, suspended by cords-upon which they
slowed away passengers for the night. Babel
never heard a greater confusion of tongues
than this call set w~agging. But above them
all was heard the silver tone of a travelling eX-
quisitc. piping out
Law am first, Cap'cn. rcally.-I claim pwi-
or choice do, dem'dif | don't.
Happening TO BE- first on the register, it was
accorded, and the Captain suggested a locker
berth as the most comfortable.
No, no !-dem-bcg -pawdon. Cap'cn.
shouted the exquisite, some gwos, fat individ-
ual might get ON thea up-a-shelf and break
down. j should BE- mangled howibly.
BE jabers, I'd like To hey the s%guazin, of
him, IN eself, said a burly lrishman.
They'd better spill a little smellin' stuff on
the pesky animal, or he'll Spite before momin' B.
chimed in Yankee.
After sundry remarks at the exquisite's ex-
pense, and considerable confusion all were
duly ucketed Tor the night, and commenced
plllng themselves away like pledges i'm a pawn
brokers' shop. Jonathan and the Irishman
carclessly spread themselves upon a couple of
long Cane-bottomed ~settees, which occupied
the centre OF the cabin; and, i'll a very brief
space of time, tie company hushed into ST.
lcnce, save an occasional short blessing be-
slowed upon the short berths. When all APP
pcared to have dropped into forgetfulness, the
head of a way passenger was thrust into the
cabin entrance, with the enquiry
Is there any bcrths here?
Sure this is the gcntlcmen's cabin, answer
cd the lrlshman.
Well, | want TO know if there's any bcrths
here? reiterated the enquirer.
Devil a chance Tor one here, was the re-
Spouse don't l tell you this is the gentlcmen's
cabin?
The conversation partly aroused the sleep
ers, who enquired of the Emeulder what was
the row
Some botherin' docther, was the ~sleepily
muttered reply.
All soon again relapsed into quiet ;-snore
began to answer snore, in high and boastful
blowing, and | returned my back to the lamp
for the purpose of making a somnolent effort,
individually. After tossing and turning for
some time, | found that the plentiful supper
taken at L%ockport had entered a veto against
sleep for me, and every effort failed to accom-
plish more than drowsy lethargy, which still
left the senses partially awake. A strange
humping noise aided to keep me in this state,
and was laboring 10 assign a cause for the
sound, when a voice distinctly cried out
It's no use a pumpin' Captin' and | won't
She may sink and be dern'd!
The concluding part of this remark started
my senses into activity, and, after an effort, |
turned round on my toot-wide couch, and took
a survey OF my sleeping partners, to observe
how the voice had affected them; but not a
muscle moved-all were chorussing, beauti-
fully, the lays of drcamland. The certainty
OF our sinking and be dern'd, was soon appa-
, ." Il Il S Sbt Of ths le.-r
lected from the floor; the waters were quiet
" stealing upon the unconscious sleepers.-
My first impulse was to sound the alarm, but
fortunately, possessing a top shelf, and con
scious that we could sink but a few feet. | held
my peace until the water should increase i'm
depth, being sure of fun when | gave the sig
nal. =
A pair of boots now commenced a very fair
Joricdrd-two to a boot jack which was busily
engaged executing a chasSez before a nodding
hat-stockings were wiggling about, as il
pleased with the fun, and, in "a few minutes
4 Dlplc, III we d SCtlls vi lllt dilDil0 Tile sleep
y ers, unconsidered trifles of wardrobe carelessly
left upon the floor. The water having reach.
ed within a few inches of the slumbering pail
upon the cane bottomed ~settees, | sounded the
alarm, by shouting
Murder boats sinking! hurra! help!
on jumped the Irishman and Yankee
splash dash !-nounder and exclamation!
Holy Virgin! what's this? %enquired Pat.
Creation and the deluge! shouted iona.
than.
Good gwacious piped in the dandy.
Down hoped the tenants of the shelves
like bodies in a family vault at a general ri.
sing-up again they hoped, light as spirit.
and twice as natural, the instant their pedaI
extremities touched the water.
Take it cool, gentlemen, shouted a West
erner, from a top berth-these are the cana
CrtrdS.
A lady, at this moment parted the curtain.
of her cabin. the emeaalder, with true gal
lantry, seized her in his arms, with a shout o
Riscue the ladies'! and bore her out on deck
Jonathan, not 10 be outdone by a foreigner
stood ready for the second, but the weight Ton
ly 2OO lbs.) put a stumper on his calamity
Yankee ingenuity, however, overcame the diff
1iculty By making a bridge of the cane set.
tees, the ladies were safely conducted from
their watery quarters.
II was a funny scene that night OF deck
and little ceremony was observed in making
toilet. None, however, seemed TO take in,
mlttor seriously, but the dandy-he had los
all his beautiiying essentials in the confusion
and was almost frightened to death at his hair
breath 'scapc. Jonathan was offering hin
some crumbs of comfort, to induce him tc
make a purchase of his future safety.
Ill tell you what, mister, saws Jonathan
just buy one of my evcrlastin'- no-drownin'
dry-and- water-t life prescryers and whe,
you get IT fred right it'il keep so dry You'll
have to sprinkle yourself to stick together.-
81. Louis RCUCaic.
TIE SCOTCH THlSTLE-Thc origin q
this national badge s thus handed down b,
tradition when the Danes invaded Scot
land, IT was deemed unwarlike to attack an
enemy in the pitch darkness Of night. instea,
ct apitchcd battle by day; on one occasion
tie invaders resolved to avail themselves q
I this StratappYu. and in ordcr ,o oxo,.o.. IL.