New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-02-23
Quite Strong Enough =!

We were somewhat amused by &c tale of the
river" that reached us the other day. 1t may
not be SO freah everywhere as here, but the salt
of its composition ought to be strong enough to
keep it readable in at least half a-dozen differ
emit versions.
| During the late prolonged stages of low water,
when for q number of days there had been
nothing larger than dug-out between Louis
Vile and Cairo, little stern-wheel boat, built
| to ran where there was slight moisture, adj
vertised her departure for the metropolis of old
Egypt, received her passengers, got up steam
and put out. The first ten miles were safely
though not speedily accomplished. Thesecond ten
| were less fortunate, for at their very commence
ment the venturous little craft got aground.
| According to the rule in such cases, made and
established, the passengers were all landed to
| tighten the craft-which when loaded only drew
about an inch and half-and the pilots waded
down stream to buoy out the channel That
| having been accomplished and q full head of
steam got on, all hands were summoned to the
spars and with a good deal of pulling and
hauling, some cursing and swearing, and the
best efforts of the engine, the cock boat was
| A'SuNoNN -
| on her way Both Scylla and Charybdis were
this time successfully avoided, and the weary
and famished passengers picked up from their
Arcadian reyels and wanderiAgs. But scarcely
had the boat got again under Roadway and the
company set down to supper before all was
brought up standing on second bar. The
approach of night prevented the crossing Of this
obstacle until morning, and the night was &C.
cordingly spent at euchre, poker and hard
drinking. In the morning the bar was crossed
and every thing went merry as whole chime
of marriage bells for nearly two hours. when
the progress of the sternwheeler 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 condition to proceed. And
it was well she was, for in these last, long lin
gering and seemingly interminable moments,
the milk had given out and then the whiskey
the fresh meat and spring chickens had follow
ed, and nothing eatable was left, save very in
durable old hen, a barrel of flour, and keg Of
butter, strong enough to stand alone.
The Captain had high hopes, however, O.
reaching his port without additional expense
and accordingly, stood on with courage ano
resolution, lodging some bars, and jumping
over others At one rather snaky passage
which he was threading with infinite care anc
circumspection, the Captain met q fat-boa
aground beyond the salvation of poles and pad
dies As he was passing, the owner of the fla
jumped up and shouted
"Give you hundred dollars to pull me of.
ssCan't do it. Haint got anything strong
enough was the reply
) just at that instant, a demure old lady, VIII
$ had been walking the hurrieane-deck an'
: watching the proceedings, walked gently up t
3 the Captain and laying her hand upon hi
shoulder very solemnly remarked: 4" dislik
to contradict you, Captain, but haven't yo1
forpotten the butter p