Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1847-12-30
His Fingers i'm The Trap.

adventure which is not published, g. which is rather
too good TO be lost. 1t is generally known that he
specuated in variety of ways, OH The treacherous
Mississippi, to get money TO help him through his
object
One of these specuations consisted in fitting up
tlatboat as Museum of Paintings, aud hc floaied
from Town TO town exhibiting these paintings to the
inhabitants thereof. lie stopped for one nipht only
at the little and almost deserted town of Commerce
Mississippi ~ which can be seen i'm his panorama n
short distance below Memphis. During the exI,i-
Dition, there was one man who appeared very consc
quenta, and wanted TO know if the pronrieior hind n
license for exhibiting his paintings he also said as
the squire was out of town, he would assume the
responsibility and collect the license himself MIR
'avard observed that the exhibition was not in the
town. but on The riuer, and that he had State license
winch gave him the privilege of exhibiting where
he pleased within the jurisdiction of the State
Il can't help that said the selEappointed magis-
trate with all the consequence ola real genuine
/ squlre'-'We calculate TO have large town here
some OF these days, and want money in our treas-
ury, and as you is making small sp,inkHn off the
place you might MS well leave little on it behind
so fork over the license money!
harvard found he had an ugly customer to deal
with, and was so well acquainted with the people of
that wild region, that he knew was best TO ret off
as easily possible for at a word this fellow could
have tue whole town at his back who would be de-
lighted with the spree of 'dornicking' the boat and
the fellow appeared 10 he leader among them
How much is your license " said the exhibitor
Il don't zackly know, but suppose will mako il
ten dollars
Ten dollars why my dear sir, have only taken
about six or eight dollars
Can't help that, wants the ten dollars or we good
But some other good caiSeT may demand another
ten dollars on the same plea " observed Banvard
q will sumo the responsibilities of my teller cit-
zcns, as am the only responsible person in the
town of Commerce.
WELL sir, since you assume the responsibility lust
sit down and view the painting, and after the eShi-
bltlon is over L will pay your demand, my business
calls me at present.
MIR Consequence then walked into the large room
where the exhibition was going on and Mr. Barnard
turned TO his hands aud giving them directions to
have all the lines on board except the bow line and
to unswlng the oar, with poles set ready for starting
at a moments warning, suspecting the fellow would
raise row. After the exhibition was over and the
good cltlzenS began TO make tracks for home the scol-
lector' remained behind and demanded his money!
Certainly said the proprietor, 'just step back into
the cabin with me, aud you shall have il , and back
he walked as of the hands was extinguishing the
lights used Tor the paintings. Just he and Ban
ward reached the little cabin, by some accident Mr. b.
conirved to eXtlngus! the only remaining Highland
both were Shut III utter darkness. In the meantime
all the spectators had left the boat and she swung
back and forth, being held only by the one line al
the bow and the current was rushing firiousy by
her. Ii was the intention of Banvard to cast the line
loose as soon the last spectator got on shore But
this last spectator saved him the trouble, he seeing
the situation of the boat thought it would be fine
Joke to tell, should he cut her loose. This fellow not
out T his DUwTe KiIt scvcrcf' mt an OH.
The hands on the bow perceving the boat dropping
astern, suspected what done, taking hold of the
line found it cut, they Immediately drew what re-
manned of it on board poled the boat off nOselessly
into the current and all OH board rapidly float
ing off on the dark bosom of the Mississippi at the
rate of six miles an hour.
Come, make haste said Consequence, after Mr.
B. had at last succeeded in re-lighting the lamp
want them are ten dollars in a hurry
Certainly sir, rs soon as find the key to my
trunk. You sir my receipts are only dollars
tonight, and must get from my trunk the balance
of the money. Can you change 20 dollar bill ?
well, cam boss. got TO 90 to court to morrow,
and Just put that sum into my pocket hand over
your BILL
yes, sir, as find the key to my trunk
Hang it, have got 10 wait here till morning for
the money" said Consequence, who began to smell a
title of The raj.
Never mind the key just hand me over the eight
dollars you have, and let the balance CO. we will not
quarrel about trfes. Do you hear? or | will have
the town about your ears
YES | hear said Barnard as he reached the
head of his BERTH and coolly took down pair of
voving pistols. The fellow seeing this retreated to-
wards the door shouting out 'lluo, ashore there
you will have TO call little louder, than that to
be heard at town. responded one of MIR BIS men OH
the bow of the boat, 1or, as take it, now a.
bout and II half miles below
why didn't you let me know you were going ="
said Consequence, his ardor little cooled when he
found the boat afloat, and himself trapped
'Why didn't we let you know? why, for very
good reason, didn't know ourselves. One ofyour
good citizens you call them cut line loose be-
fore we knew it, replied the man.
what line" inquired Barnard, the one
bought in Memphis last week"
yes, sir, replied several of the hands ut once
put me ashore shouted the would be- igntary.
Not until you pay me damages for my line which
some of your good citizens cut for me- answered
Banvard. You said you would be responsible for
their acts, and you were the only responsible person
in town. My line cost me fifteen dollars, you say
owe You ten now pay me five aud will be even
and then will have you put ashore
But, SIR rejoined the man do not take me off!
have a suit pending and | will lose it i'll am not
there to to it. Put me ashore, and will say no-
ing about the license
Not until you pay me five dollars damages for
having my line cut; and if you do not, will take
you to Vicksburg and have you committed to prison
for endeavoring 10 rob man under false pretences.
well, sir, step towards the light and get the five
dollars and taking out his pocket-bool, Consequence
stepped 10 the light and gave the five dollars, when
Mr. H. gave orders TO have him set ashore The
hands then told him they would not risk themselves
in small boat at night among the snags without be-
ing well paid for it, and Mr. Consequence was forced
TO give them each a dollar for which they set him
ashore in thick cane brake the opposite side of
the river about three miles below the town. How he
got home that night is best known to himself We
venture TO say he never medded with business that
did not concern him after passing that night among
the mosquitoes and ligators.-BostOn Bee,
PEAcEABLE COMMUNITY--The Court of Com
mon Pleas for the County of Barnsable, Mass. held
its annual session lately. The Judges took their
seats the chaplain prayed the full complement OF
grand and petit jurors melodious crier, and bar
full OF lawyers qualified to maintain any side ofeher
cause-yet after all, not a single criminal civ
] I'm 81 fhS W.