The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-04-06
AN APRIL FOOL JOKE.

Inc following story IN tho iioH'c Soui
nal ID related by BANvARp, the distinguished
American painter-who has immorsnilzed
himself by his representation Of the M'ssis-
sippi. Il is certainly u rich joke, and i
comes in good time.
BANvARD tells the following good joke OF
fooling Mississippi steamboat. lilo was
living 10. wind bound, with small trading
boat at the head of the chute Of Prophets
island, and il being the fret Of April, his
hands were dcte rmned to have 'lark' Of
some kind. During tho day they had OBJ
served sawyer close in shore, about halt
mile above where the fiat lay. This
sa,ryer had been constantly bobbing its head
up and down all day long; from this, tn
king the hint, they procured some Of their
old clothes, and stuffed them with the
Spanish moss, which they drew from a
neighboring tree, then making paper face
and surmounting the whole with palmct-
to hat, they made quite respectable look
inn baekwoodsman. After SHUTDOWN near
dark, they took this imitation Of humanity
mp the river to where the industrious saw
yer was working. (As probably many Of
our readers do not exactly understand what
Mississippi sawyer il, wo will say for
their information, that it is merely a loose
mag which is kept in motion, swinging up
and down by tho force Of the current, not
unlike person sawing.) When opposite
the sawyer they drove two upright stakes
into the earth, and drew tho pantaloons of
the figure over them, SO rs 10 mako II stand
perpendicular; then tying on unlighted
torch in its hand, and placing couple of
empty boxes and q key near to give tho np-
psarance of 'plunder,' they had quite a
respectable passenger. All things prcpa-
red, they sat down to whit for the steamer.
II was not long before ,hey heard ono scra-
ping round the point, and coming into the
chute They then hastily kindlcd fire
near by, lit the torch in tho figure hand,
conveyed small string from the hand that
held it, over light limb out to the sawyer,
and made il fast. Tho motion Of tho snag
kept the torch in the figures hand waving
up and down exactly like person hailng
steamer. The wagsh bontmen then
jumped into their skill and pulled OF into
the shade Of an adjacent cove, to watch the
result.
Soon the steamer camc in sight. The
captain, seeing the light, supposed Of course.
II was hail, las the projectors intended he
should, Ut onco commenced ringing his bell
to answsr, and gave order to lay over to-
wards where Mr.. S,ufly, as the boatmen
bad named him, WINS busy shaking his torch.
Stop herr shouted the captain. Dng.a.
ling went the bell, and the engines ceased
their motion. open the fro doorsr shout
cd tho engineer, and AWAY streaked the
light from the fiery furnaces, lighting up the
surrounding gloom, and hiss wen, the escape
steam, rcvcrbcrating through tho cyer!ast-
ing cotton wood forests; and there was as
much hustle and noise on board oil tho Clip
per- for that proved 10 be her name, as it
she was going to take on twcnsy cabin pas
sengere. Stand by the yawI, thcrcn the
captain ordered. Soon tho yawI was of,
with two deck bands pulling, and the mate
10 10 usual standing up in the stern, steer
ing for Mr.. StuiIy. Stop shaking your
light--don't you think we see you?' shout
ed tho mate, from tho yawl. Get your
plumber down under the bank, there, il you
want to come on board sung on. tho cap
tain, from the deck Of tho steamer, "or we
will put out again and leave you.
But Stuffy heard not. There no stood
waving up and down tho fire brand he held
in his hand. 'Thc fellows cross said the
captain. 'IIc's fool, mn.tercd the mate
with an oath between his teeth. No he
aint,' said one Of tho hands; .bnt he is
sls.,ck .oo ho be- 4, t,,v~i,io1 J,,,y,, ttr to..l
there Just ut this moment tho yawl wns
run 10 near tho shore, aud passing between
tho snag, and under the line attached 10 the
figure, il caught under the mates chin
throwing him back in the boat, at tho same
time jerking Mr.. Stuffy over the bank, and
he rolled into tho river. Man overheard
was then the cry, and the passengers rush
ed from the cabin to behold tho sad catas-
trophe. Catch him, quick shouted sever
o. voices ut once, cor he will be drowncdn-
A Few hurried strokes brought tho yawl 10
the drowning mmn. Tho mate seized him,
drew him aboard the yawl, and then pulled
for the steamer. When raising the drown
ing man on board, he split in two, and the
moss falling ont, they oil discovered that
no was neither csazy, drunk or drowned -
but that he was a regular sucker; for hc
had sucked in the captain, mate, and hands
Of tho steamer Clipper handsomely Then
such . laugh and shout went up from the
passengers, and oil hands, as to drown the
escape Of steam Of the beat as che was pu,
under way again, by tho Captains hearty
sGo-ahcad.' Barnard and his men Joined
IN the laugh, and returned 10 their bout to
luugh over again, the success Of their joke.
The Washington Union, speaking Of the
refuaal nc iha lowa Honsn &c Ran.osaaAo