Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-18
SEaEGlGD TALE.
From Ned Buntline's Own.
The
SHARkAND The SUCKER,
BY ). H, GREEN, THE REFORMED CAMEL
Uk 1--WE ACLp AAAIAN.

BY J. II, GREEN, THE REFORMED GAMBLER.
The steamer Smeller was IA fine boat, and
Captain Harris IA fine captain. oho made
lqulck trips, could crawl over aS shoal water
as the next boat, carry as much freight, ald
make as much noise, aud clear as inuch cash
as any other craft which ran between Clii-
cinnaIi aud Galena duI1nsdhe year 1891.
The plain honest manner vi Oaplaiu II. hdu
made him IA great iavorite IA that traue !;
besides, he always carried SUCH piloiS as
Harden Roherds; aud Vi course the onelter
was never found IA shOal water when there
was any other kind IA TIE channel. ohe
was always crowded with passengers, aud
ltreighted 10 tne guards and II mad become
the general Dehet oil a certain portion oil
Inc travelling community that you might as
well try TO catch streak oi Iorkeai H.hihg
on CREASED RAN, as 10 catch Roherds suck
ing her head where there Was NOT suincieht
water for her hull.
During one OF her crowded trips, Ger
tain - stool pigeon," who resided IA CIncln-
matt, with some OF the most shrewd, broken
gamblers, took passage III her lor Inc pur-
pose OF iieeclng the passengers. ms pug
con had been honored Win the litie oI
. Captain for sOuie Ut ms renowned VII
llainy, and we Will here designate nm as
Captain Shark. lie was Il ulan OF aitable
Qualities he had been bartender Tor sew
erai years at NatcheZ under-the-hll and.
upon the whole, he was well versed IN the
black art. lie had passed as a river captain
for several years, but now was Wholesale
lwhiskey dealer. his dId well enough for
the green 'uns, but he could not come II over
such Incn as Captain Harris and HoDerds,
no way he could tx 1t.
The boat was crowded, but on inspection
Captain Shark found the signs against his
party. lie made their situation known 10
each for their mutual benefit. lie had no
notion of footing the bill to which their sew
eral passages amounted, and the Smelter
was d standard boat-thai had TO be taken
into consideration. besides, Captain liar
ris was hard to fool while he was on watch:
and when he was oil, there was that = old
coon,'' Harden Roberds-of course no one
could fool him.
/ lit is desperate case, indeed, boys !"
said Captain Shark, as he addressed the i've
black legs in IA state-rOom, where he mad
summoned them for the purpose. rs a
case without a parallel; i've hundred pas
sengers, and no show To make our passage
money. Not Que Of them viii even tc!e
about a game. 1 his is Mysterious can
not account for 1t there must DE something
wrong!"
/ IL was finally decided by majority that
/ it was more misfortune than design that they
had been without ga {, and they came 20
the conclusion To take the chances, anu wnen
they arrived at the mouth OF the UhIO, a
place at which tue oaneiter generally STOP
ped 10 take both passengers aiId Ireisnt, tney
tlrg
leave. This Mas the easiest course to pur-
sue, as each could carry his baggage IA his
hat. They were then near OOlcOnda, az
which place the boat was hailed 10y party
of men " inch babe TAR from appearance, 10
be party not only susceptible ol beng flee
ced, bur one that would pay for the pains.
This party was soon ON board and the
boat under way, when an old man, dressed
IN a brown Jeans coat, aud pants OF the same
dye, and who appeared 10 be the chief OF
the squad, called out ~ au authOEitiye tone:
" DullIes,-yOur presence OH tie after
guard.''
The command was instantly obeyed, and
the Captain was heard 10 address theiII as
follows:
" My bullies Of the Sucker State, we are
once more Oh our scouting duties, and your
Captain thinks that II l. most proper that
you should take deck passage ~ preference
to the cabin, for the sake vi distinction,
which is due all chieitalns."
Z he party gave their consent To this SUI
gesuon, with the understanding that he
should take cabin passage and make good
their passage money. a he Sucker Captain
soon made his way to the clerks office, Where
he gave the number Of passages ne was re-
Isponsibie for, paid over, and was about reti-
| ring wbsu the clerk remarked: