The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-09-07
The American Bottom W.. Ynnkeedon,.
Correspondence Of the Otiawa-Free Trader
NO. H..
Mourn OF Sr. CRox RrvER,


AS Mr.. Corr seems to attract more
attention here at present than every
thing else put together, you will cx-
cuse me for combining myself princi-
pally to his exploits. He is decided
ly lion amongst the Yankees; for,
no matter where he is or what lie is
doing, he always has crowd about
him.
On Tuesday evening he delivered
his second lecture, and the house
was agcin jam full. lie took for his
subject "SrIM INCfNEs." "These,"
said he, "are now in so common yus
in the American Bottom that sports
men yus 'nm instid uf pinter dogs.
! know uf an instance whar one To-
comotuv hunted prairie grouse for
five hundred ghnners, and made, at
the least ejaculation ten thousand
regular 'Simon-pure' pints without
fushin' single bird, all in one day
its the truth uf scriptor, an nothin'
shorter. The principal advantage"
he continued, "gained in yusin' a To-
comotuv as pinter was, you can
yns the baggage cars for carryin' the
game in"
"Why, ladies and gentlemen"
continued he, "thar's nothin' like
knowing how to apply stim. For
six years | have been shared
by a barber whose ra-or was pro-
PEELED by this mighty agint. And
this is not all : they are now rapidly
improving on the style of slim boats,
and | have no doubt that in less than
another year, they will be able to
run orr rivers, spring and fall, as
well as any other part of the season.
A man in the American Bottom has
invented mashin with which fish
can be driven about, any wllar, in
the streams like flock uf sheep,
thus drivin' them away from obstruc-
TIM the course uf the boats :"
Such were the leading features of
his lecture, though he had clothed
them in language which made then
appear almost credible.
After the lecture was over another
crowd collected at the tavern; and
Mr.. Colt had to answer a thousand
different questions in reference TO
that wonderful "far west" and par
ticularly the "Amcrican Bottom
Among the scores of interrogatcrs
was a young "dandifed looking" fell
low, wearing white vest, kid gloves,
French patient leather boots, and
putting, vigorously, superb rega-
LA of "pure Habana," The moment
he stepped up | noticed Jim was
prepared for his reception
"Strangcr," said he, "if it is not
TOO much of an intrusion, | should
like to ask you one question"
"No intrusion, SIR" said jim,
"proceed."
"Well, | simply want to know
what kind Of machine that is, you
mentioned as having been invented
in the American Bottom, to facilitate
navigation on the western rivers,
during spring and fall?"
ooh is that all Well, that ma
shin.-Let me see-you mean the
eh, yes, ycs-yoU mean the Fish
Herd yes that's it. 1t is, sir,
what we call in the American Bot
tom a "FiSh- Herd"
elbow do they use it ~
"Why, my dear sir, havn't you
ever read Of the extraordinary in
vcntion OF Mr.. Bill Stubblcs, of
Duck Slough Farm, American Bot
tom, ILL.,, called the Fish Herd?"
"Nevcr, sir, never"
"'Pon honor, never heard OF it ?"
:;Positively never"
"Thcn, YOU have never been in
the west, sir, This country is great
ly in the back gronnd-cvery day
proves it,"
"No, have never been to the
west, but expect to 90 in a few
months, and | wish to learn all | can
in reference to that country before |
60"
"Do you think of going thar to
live or ist TO visit the country? ?"
"Well, think of going there to
live-to seek a fortune"
"Indeed? It's a great place TO
make a fortune; particularly the A.
merican bottom. Calaforny isa fool
to it: only, a Teller wants little to
start OIL DON'T wish to be imper-
tinent, but | should like to ask wha,
amount Of loose change you think
will answer your purpose?"
81 think Of taking about two thou
sand dollars"
"Just the right sum exsackly,'
said James as he turned to me ant
gave slight twich with one corner
Of the left eye. "Have you made a
ny cacalashin as to how YOU cypec,