Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-03-24
Quite Strong Enoughl

No were somewhat amused by " tale Of
the river y that reached us the other day Ii
may not be so fresh everywhere as here, but
the salt of it's composition ought to be strong
enough to keep it readable in at least half
a-dozen different versions
During the late prolonged stages of low
water, when for a number Of DAYS there had
been nothing larger than dug-out between
Louisville and Cairo, little stern.wheel boat
built to run where there was a slight moist
ure. advertised her departure for the metrop-
OILS OF old Egypt, received her passengers,
got up steam and put out. The first ten miles
were safely though not speedily accomplished
The second ten were less fortunate, for at
their very commencement the venturous little
craft got aground. According to tho rule in
such cases, made and established, the pa ssen-
gers were all landed to Tighten the craft
which when loaded only drew about an inch
and hali-and the pilots waded down stream
to buoy ont the channel. That having been
accomplished and full head of steam got on,
all hands were summoned to the spars, and
with good deal of pulling and hauling, some
cursing and swearing, and the best efforts of
the engine, the cock boat was backed into
" deep water " and headed down on her wav.
Both Scylla and Charybdis were successfully
avoided, and the weary and famished passen-
gers picked up from their Arcadian revels
and wanderings. But scarcely had the boat
got again under headway and the company
set down to supper before all was brought up
standing on a second bar The approach of
night prevented tho crossing of this obstacle
until morning, and the night was accordingly
spent at euchre, poker and hard drinking
In the morning the bar was crossed and every
thing went merry as a whole chime of mar
riage bells for nearly two hours, when the
progress Of the stern wheeler was once more
retarded.
This time she had run up high and nice
The previous operations were renewed and
after twenty-five hours hard work at the spars,
she was once more in a condition to proceed
And 1t was we'll she was, for in these last
long lingering and seemingly interminabIe
moments, the milk had given out and then
the whiskey, the fresh meat and spring
chickens had followed, and nothing eatable
was left, save very incurable old hen a
barrel of -four, and keg of butter, strong
enough to stand alone.
The Captain had high hopes, however, Of
reaching his port without additional expense,
and accordingly, stood on with courage and
resolution, dodging some bars, and jumping
over others. At one rather snaky passage
which he was threading with infinite care
and circumspection, the Captain met fiat
boat aground beyond the salvation Of pole,
and paddles. As he was Iassing, the owner
of the Hat jumped up and shouted
:" Give you II hundred dollars to pull III,
Can do it. Ilaint got anything strong
enough" WAS the reply.
! Just at that instant, dcmurc old lady
! who had been walking the hurricane decl
and watching the proceeding, walked gentl,
up to the Captain and laying her hand upoi
his shoulder very solcmnly remarked " dis
like to contradict you, Captain, hut haren