Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-21
RIVER BOATMEN'S STORIES.

MoeurroEAn old pilot on the Ohio
body get bitten over skeetsr
the place that one has BEEN b hm eys Il
years ago. Being bitten all therefore re-
We don't believe that story 1t is not according to our
experience. We prove its fasity in court of JUS
tce, not only by own affidavit but by that Of on
three other credible witnesses We advise every body
to be deceived by the theory that mosquito will not
place his sucker in the place that has been in
before him." We speak understandingly when we pro-
nounce the "old pilot Of the Ohio humbug We tried
the experiment last june Bog river up the Ra-
quette woods, and the demonstrations were perfect
There three Of up there and the mosquitoes and
black flies were there too plenty Of them They stuck
their bills into every exposed to their operations
They probed every orce in the epdermis Of our faces
and ears They went the whole ground again and
again. In fact they rather liked to find and pune
tured spot and Of friends insisted that he could
detect half dozen waiting till the one in position had
filed himsef that when he withdrew his proboscs there
would be regular scramble for his place. We can't at
test from personal observation the truth of this as
serton but friend is to be believed and il he
to the fact it may be safely set down as So
We have small confidence in these old Ohio pilosn
they tell such awfuly large stories. We remember Q
bear story Of ones telling He seemed believe it him
SELF for he told it with gravity Of face that would i'll
compor with its falsty We do not vouch for its verity
we simply tell it the old pilot told it to u.s. one plea
SAINT afternoon gliding along quietly down the
Ohio fighting mosquitoes and watching the he was
sinking down into the Western wilderness, casting the
dark shadows of the woods far out the waters.
"Twenty years ago., said the old pilot he light
ed his stump Of pipe and seated himself whskey
keg, there warnt great many people along the banks
Of the Ohio except Ingns and BEARS and didn't like
to cultivate very close friendship with either Of them
came out for people over the east side Of the
mountains lookin land with company of four who
had hunted the country. We down the Ale
ghany in two and shanteed the Ohio just be-
low where the Allegheny enters it, Early morning
while my comrades asleep rose and went
the river after deer for wanted venison for break
fast got buck and returning, when what should
see but bear swimming the Ohio and put after him
in chase soon overhauled the crtter and picked up
my rife to give him settler when found that in pad
ding had spatered water into the CANOE wettipg the
printing and making the thing of use than q
stick didn't understand much about the mater Of the
beast them and thought I'd run him down and drown him
or knock him the head. So put the right head
on towards him. but when the bow touched him what did
he do but reach his great paws over the side Of the
boat and began to climb in hadn't barganed for that
and felt mighty unpleasant you may swear, at the pros
pect Of having such passenger hadn't time get at
him with my rife until he tumblin into the bow Of
the dugout and, he seated himself his STERN show
ed as fine set Of ivory body would wish to see.
There we sat- he in end Of the dugout and in the
other cycling another in mighty suspicious sort Of
way. He did, inclined to to my end Of the
canoe and was principled agin going towards his.
made ready to take to the water short notice. but at
the time concluded to paddle him ashore if he'd let
do it quietly. Well, padded away the bear every
and then grnnng at me, skinnng his face till every
tooth in his head stood right out and grumbling to him
self in way that seemed to say wonder if that chap
is good to eat didn't say word to him. treating him
oil the time like gentleman but kept pulln' for the
shore When the canoe touched the ground he Chamber
ed the side and climbed up the bank and giving
extra grin, started off into the woods pushed the
dug-out back suddenly and gave him, felt safe,
extra warwhoop which seemed to astonish him. for he
quickensd his pace nightly, as il quite glad
to part company I've tried to drown bear SINCE
and shant undertake to do it again in hurry"
ALbanu Regsfer