The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-19
HAMS p.rsns sHr uLDERs....A sralnse sxrrcs

on TIE character Of the hardy pioneers of the Far
| West. Among them none were more truly noble,
brave or generous, than the Bargemen. The fol-
lowing tale will family describe some of the scenes
Of their wild life.
In the fall of 1910 MY business required me to
travel through part of the Wabash valley Az
darkness was closing around one evening in the
latter part Of October, found myself in possession
of all those exquisite pleasures enjoyments to
which the poor fated traveller is sometimes con-
demned / had the satisfaction Of knowing that i
was the only human being within five miles, The
road was travelling was one that led through
dismal swamp. II had been but lately opened and
was of the order of ancient railroads, but being
new and running through forest, this one boasted
| of huge logs instead of fence-rails crossway.
The considerate beings who had opened it in order
| to add to the comfort of the beated and wearied
traveller had generously thrown on it about eigh-
teen inches of dirt, which, having the benefit OF
plenty of rain, had been worked by other travellers
J into a delightful mire which made horses foot
pop he drew it out, to the great delight of indus
rious horseshoers, and the dread and disgust Of all
livery stable men. To add to these enjoyments
was the satisfaction of having journeyed long
distance that day; weary and tired, cold sleeting
rain beating in my face, the night dark Egypt,
had an appetite savage as a cannibal. NV patience
had long since been exhausted, when l found my
self once more on good road, and in short time
reached the banks of the Wabash. | snatched
the horn from the stake on which it hung, and
blew with as good will as ever horn was blown
before. In short time the answering signal of
the ferry-man on the opposite bank was given, and
in the course of half an hour was safely landed
-. l.. A.. 4c L.
distant from the bank of the river l reached the
high bluffs on which is situated the beautiful and
flourishng little village of Mt. Carmil There W as
at that date but tavern in the place, but it was
such in every sense of the word. A prince could
not have avoided being satisfied with its accommo
dations In short time after seeing my poor jaded
horse well taken care of, / was invited into the
supper room where all the good things Of The land
lay spread out before me, and made them suffer i'll
manner astonishing to invalids, After supper |
walked into the bar-room, the common sitting room
of taverns for gentlemen in those parts. An excel
lent fire blazed in the fireplace, around which sat
some six or eight persons who seemed all attentively
listening to an Id gentleman of sixty or sixty-five
years Of age. the attention and respect shown
him bespoke him to be person of more than ord-
nary character He was about six feet one or two
inches in height broad chest and shoulders straight
as an arrow and, taking him altogether, was one
with whom but few even at his advanced age
would care to measure strength.
"Come uncle Joe, give us tale of barge life !;
you know we never let you off when You come
here without giving us tale of some part of your
former life,' said one of the gentlemen addressing
him.
This brought all the takers to silence, and ey-
r,J
Z" well, boys" said the OLD gentleman, g III tell
you of fight that took place not far from here on
the Wabash. As near as can recoect, it was in
the year 1916, that merchant up yonder in VIM
cennes had lot of salt down in Shawneeiown
which he was much in need Of He>chartered one
of the barges that lay there go down and get it.
The owners of the barge put on board the supply of
provisions that to do the trip, and gin the
mand to man they had long and favorably known
as a good pilot and one whom they knew would
look TO their interest before he would to his own
comfort. In shipping the crew they had procured
all old hargemen, except one Louey Leblanc. Now
Louey had been raised in Vlncennes, but for The
last three or four years had been absens either
trapan hunting injens some such like 'musemens.
He war now grown and well got up too, some
twenty-five or three years Old, and war about as
purity specimen of human mater as you would see
in days travel in the thick settlements. Louey
a goodnatered, honest, joveial Teller, and war a
gineral favorite with every one on board.
In sending the provisions on board, the owners
had sent two boxes of bulk pork, in one of which
war hams, and in the other shoulders Now the Cap
tam had gin order that none of the hams should be
cooked until the shoulders war all eat up Well,
this went on very well some ten or twelve days,
until at last il come Louey's turn to cook it being
then the custom for each to cook turn about at
night and in the norning-enough to last all day,
as we did not stop but once.
"Now," says Louev, boys, mean to have
ham. have eat them fat shoulders till m moth
ing but grease
elf you do. the Captain will lick you, sartin
shure,' said one of them.
SC don't care" says Louey, / don't like shout
ders all the time, when can get hams'' So Louey
went down in the boat and got fine large ham,
and cooked it very nicely. He then called the
boys to come and get their supper Well, they all
set down, and the Captain war helped to piece.
He commenced caring, when suddenly he stopped,
jumped up, and looked as though he wurent men,
toned in the bill of fare at all. He axed who
cooked that ham!' The boys all knew there wur
storm coming, and said nothing Louey spoke
up, and says he, 1t wur l, SIR
Well, sir, didn't you know that had gin or
ders that no one wur to cook any of them hams till
all the shoulders wur eat ups''
Yes, Captain, but then l thought as how we
had been eating shoulders now for some time,
change to ham wonld digest better'
You did, Ell! Well, always ma kes it a prac-
tice OF jrking anybody that disobeys my orders on
nv boat and the way III rk Won in the mornino |
will be astonishing to squalIing babies''
Well, Captain" said Louey, +" / dos love ham
mazingy, and s'pose we say if whip, we eat ham,
an if you whip, why shoulders are our doom. |
Ems my sentiments.''
"Well," said the Captain, if it ill gin yon
any satisfaction to dream Of eating ham tonight it
are bargin; but you needn't think you are going |
to get off of licking. for I'll gin you goss in the