Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-05
Driving a ParsOn Ashore.

aller who finds himself on board Mis-
sissippi Steamer, will occasionally
meet "passenger' who has shaken
hands with the ''grim monster" and
narted company with him, at consid-
erably less than moments notice!
We were a fortunate collection, on
hoard the elegant ''Yorktown"-upon
one of her downward trips last season
and, with a full river, and rapid
current. were making Roadway, at
more than twenty mile lick. down
stream-on a clear day early in No
vember.
Drinks all round" had been the
order Of the evening with certain
coterie of friends. the occupation be-
ing varied only by "cobblers for the
party'--"snifters for the crowd"-or
''slugs for the entire company"-until,
by common consent, the "mourners'
settled themselves down into compare
tive quiet.
Most of the passengers disappeared
for the-night, and only knot of "hard-
heads" were left upon deck. These
remained till daylight, amusing each
other with long yarns. At early
morning, they had drawn some half a
dozen listeners around them, among
whom was superstitious imposter, in
rusty black and straight hair-who
was endeavoring TO palm himself off
for clergyman, and who was strong
ly suspected by one of the story-tel-
lers. The principal object of the most
prominent speaker (who was rough,
but good-natured Virginian) seemed
to be to impress upon the mind of this
pretended Rev, the dangers and jeop-
ardies of eam-travelling; ore pecu-
liarly on the Mississippi River! The
parson had said little, but he gave his
neighbors TO understand that all his
predictions were in favor Of the
''doctrine of forc-ordination.'
"Whatever is to be, will be-" sigh
ed the rusty gentleman, as the Virgin
ian concluded an account of dreadful
steamboat accident, which occurred
only few days previously.
"You b'lieve it, do you, stranger?'
"Indeed, my friend, | do"
"P'raps you never hecrn tell O. thai
orful catastrophy as took place here
abouts, some time ago?"
"Mercy NO"
"Last year-afo' Christmas"--
"To what?'
"To the steamer Shorter"
"No! Where?"
"On this very river"
"How?"
"Bu'st her biler."
"When?"
Gust about this time O. day"
"The ID, | mean, you don't say
SOL"
Oh, yes. What is ter be, will be
and a Teller can't help it,"
The tabs of dingy white neck
cloth dangled at the side of the nara
tors chair, and pair of dingier grey
eyes were fixed upon the Virglnian's
as he proceeded.
"How did it happen?' asked thu
reverend.
"WaI. We he'd fello' abo'd, a!
was struck with fit o. prcachin' -anC
the cuss never ID sleep O. nights, bu
keep a holIerin' and blo'n'-cos hi
was Altered sunthin' would split afo
day-he said-we was such wicked
set, and he'd try TO hev sum Nv u
put asho'. lie was Jonah, cuss him
but we fixed him afo' we got through
"How?" asked the parson.
"How? W'y-we left him asho'n
"WhereP"
son the river-yere."
"In the night"
"No. Just about this time! We
overhauIed boat as wus runnin' in
the opposition (at a woodward below
and afo' we knew whar we wus, the
Cap'n had got our craft under weigh
agin flor the Teller had started OIL a.
head of US, in a hurry. and we wui
soon neck and neck. The pitch-knots
was crammed inter the furnaces, right
smart, stranger, and away we went,
sometimes afo' and sometimes abreast
of the "Snorter." Wul-we finally
hove in sight of another woodward
whar we he'd to stop to take in luel.-
We yeered round to Inc sho', and made
fast in iify."
..Weli.'' said the parson, as his eyes