Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-04-12
A STORY ABOUT RANvARD.

the lady OF caprice.
A STORY ABOUT RANvARD.
Every one, or at least, every American, ha
heard of Barnard. and many has read his adven
lures, as published in the descriptive pamphlet
of his great Picture of Che Mississippi. But h,
is the hero of an adventure which is not pub
llshed, and which is rather to good to be lost
1t is generally known that he speculatea in ;
variety of ways on the tleacherous Mississip
pi, to get money to help him through his OBJ
ject.
One of the speculations consisted in fitting
mp flat-boat as museum of paintings, which
he foated from town to town, exhibiting these
paintings to the inhabitants thereof. He stop
ped "for one night only" at the little, and al
most deserted town, of Commerce, Mississippi
and which can be seen in his panorama short
distance below Memphis. During the exhibit
ton, there was one man who appeared very
consequential, and wanted to know if the pro-
prietor had license for exhibiting his painting!
He also said as the f'Sqtire" was out of town.
he would assume the responsibility and collect
the license himself. Mr.. Banvard observed
that the exhibition was not in the town, but on
the River, and that he had State license,
which gave him the privilege of exhibiting
where he pleased within the jurisdiction OF
the State.
81 can't help that" said the self-appointed
magistrate, with all the consequence of a ssreal
genuine SQUIRE" ave calculate to have a
large town here one of these days, and want
money In our treasury, and as you is making a
small sprinklin off the place, you might as well
leave little on it behind so fork over the Ii
cense money"
Barnard fonnd he had an ugly customer to
deal with, and was SO well acquainted with the
people of the wild region, that he knew it was
best to get off as easy as possible; for, at a
word, this fellow could have the whole town
at his back, who would be delighted with the
"spree" of 'dornickng' the boat, and the fei-
low appeared to be leader among them.
SHOW much is your licensef" said the ex-
hibtor
81 don't zackly know, but suppose l viii
make it ten dollars"
''Ten dollars! why, my dear sir, have only
taken about six or eight dollars"
"Can't help that; want the ten dollars, or
we good citizens will odfsticate this boat for
you"
'But some other good citizen may demand
another ten dollars on the same plea" obser-
we'd Barnard.
81 will 'sume the responsibilities of my fel :
low citizens, as am row the only responsible
person in the town of Commerce"
swell, sir since you assume the responsible
ity, Just sit down and view the painting, and
after the exhibition is over will pay your de-
mand;rhy business calls ne at present"
Mr. Consequence then walked into the large
room where the exhibition was going on, and
Mr.. Barnard turned TO his hands, and giving
them directions to have all the lines on board
except the show line," and to unswing the oar
with poles set ready for starting at a moment s
warning, suspecting the fellow would raise
row. After the exhibition was over, and the
good citizens began to make track for home, the
collector remained behind and demanded his
money.
''Certainly," said the proprietor; '.iust step
back into the cabin with me, and you shall have
it," and back he walked as one of the hands
was extinguishing the lights used for the pain
tings. Just as he and Barnard reached the lit
tie cabin, by some accident Mr.. B. contrived
TO extingush the only remaining light, and
both were shut in utter darkness. -. In the mean
time all the spectators had left the boat, and
she swung back and forth, being held only by
the one line at the bow, and the current was
rushing furiously by her. It was the intention
of Banvard to cast the line loose as soon as
the last spectator got on shore. But this last
spectator saved him the trouble, for seeing the
situation of the boat he thought it would be a
fine joke to tell that he cut her loose. This
fellow, not aware that the would be magis-
trate was on board, out with his bowie knife,
severed the line and ran off. The hands on the
bow perceiving the boat dropping astern sus-
pecting what was done, and taking hold of the
line found it cut. They Immediately drew what
remained OF il on board, poled the boat off noise
lessly into the current, and all on board were
rapidly floating off on the dark bosom of the
Mississippi, at the rate of six miles an hour.
ssCome, make haste,'' said Consequence, af-
ter Mr.. B. had at last succeeded in re-lighting
the lam2,-'H want them are ten dollars in a
hurry
"Certainly, sir, as soon as find the key of
my trunk. You see, sir, my receipts are only
eight dollars tonight, and must get from my
trunk the balance of the money. Can you
change twenty dollar-bill?'
Well, | can, boss. got to 90 to court to-
morrow, and just put that sum into my pock-
et-hand over your BILL"
ayes, sir, as soon as | find the key to my
trunk"
"Hang it, have got to wait here till morn
ing for the money! said Consequence, who
began to smell little of the rat.
ssCertainly, unless | find my key before that
time"
ssNever mind the key; just hand me over the
eight dollars you have, and let the balance go,
we will not quarrel about tribes. Do youheaf!
or will have the town about your ears"
"Yes, hear" said Barnard, as be reached
over the head of his berth, coolly took down
a pair of revolving pistols. The fellow seeing
this retreated toward the door, shouting out,
"Hullo, ashore therem
"You'll have TO call little louder than that
to be heard at town." responded one of Mr.. BIS
men, on the bow of the boat, ''for, as take it,