The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-02-21
Bontmcn's Justice.

The st. Louis Herald tells this story
A week or so ago the good steamer Helen
Marrow ice-bound at Rattlesnake land
ing, twenty miles below this city-wa the
scene OF one of those little romances which
will sometimes occur in spite of life's dull
realities. We state the facts, as related to
us by passenger.
The Helen Mar was bound down The Ohio
for this city. At tPaducah young man
from Tennessee came aboard, and took pas
sage in the cabin. He was from the coun-
try, ahd being away from home with "pock-
ct tull of rocks" he was not long in making
the acquaintance of all on board, from the
fireman to the captain. Among the passen-
gers was young girl of seventeen, to whom
the Tennesseean paid marked attentions
and it was evident that she was not indiffer-
ent to his Establishments.
The ice was running thick in the river. as
the Helen Mar turned her bow up the Mis-
sissippi, and her progress was slow. The
young Tennessaean would frequently Join
the circle gathered around the stove, but
presently paid all his attentions to the young
lady. Presently, she seldom appeared in
the ladies' cabin, and her step, recently as
light as the antelope =, was heavy and slow;
her cheek was pale, and her eyes dim and
swollen. Tears were seen to steal from un-
der her fringed eyelids, and it was whisper
ed that sobs--deep, broken-hearted sobs OF
anguish and despair-were heard from her
state room in the silence of night, when
others slept.
The boatmen began to suspect that some
thing twas wrong, they canvassed the matter
among themselves and resolved upon an in
testigatioh. The Trailer vessel belhs leaky
they determined 10 otefhahl her and discover
the cause. With that delicacy characteris-
tic of Western boatmen, they said nothing
to the girl herself, but called upon some of
the lady passengers to interrogat, her.
The girl was young and artess. With
tears and sobs she confessed she had Welded
to the young mans opportunities, and had
fallen from virtue. She blamed him not,
however. but took all the blame upon her.
self.
1t was about 10 o'clock at night when this
fact was communicated to the crew and pas
sengcrs composing the "Cour, of Inquiry"
They were not long in making up their YER
diet. Their decision was that the two crafts
should be lashed together.
The Tennesseeah was arraigncd before
the imperative tribunal. and made acquaint-
ed with the sentence. He had to take the
girl or be left high and dry on q sand bar.
where he would freeze to death in less than
an hour. He "cavcd ia" at once-said he
was willing to do what was right, and would
make the wronged Indy mistress Of his plant.
alton in Tennessee. The girls consent was
also obtained, and the next stew was to find
blacksmith to do the welding. There
was no one on board authorized TO officiate
on such interesting occasions. and about
midnight the boat was landed at Chester. on
the Illinois shore, and amessenger dispatch.
ed to procure aparson or a Justice OF the
Peace. Justice was fonnd. jerked out ofI
bed, and marched down to the boat, rather
against his will, and the marriage ceremony
in the Sucker State, being exceedingly
brief, the deed was done in less than two
minutes.
Having poiited the two crafts safely into
port, and tied them up snugly together, the
iovial boatmen resolved to "have night of
it." After drinking the health OF the be.
wildered Justice, they sent him ashore. and
the Court as Board OF Com
missioners to assess damages. nrhe pre-
ceedings on this occasion were Of the most
mirth-provoking character. Our Informant
says they were indescribably amusing. Ma
ny proposals were made to infict some ii-
dricods sort Of penalty upon the bridegroom,
and the speeches delivered were highly hoh-
'rable to the bar of the steamboat. It was
finally agreed that the young man should pay
! 6nej census taker was appointed to
;ount noses, and clerk to figure up the
:osts. The sentence was, that the happyi
elbow should pay four dollars and d half III
egal illinois currency--coon skins exclu-
Ied--to. be expended in spiritual comforts
or the benefit OF the honorable Court. The
hiding Of the Court was pronounced with j
preliminary 20 yesip through ths keyholel !
{ bic state-room door. and he was ordered, j
nder threats Of divers pains and penalties, Il
3 ''shell ont.' II
The last We heard of the newly married. 7
puple. they we're snugiy domiciled in els-
ant apartments at Barnum's ST. Louis EIo-I Y
shaving made The trip BY land from theI Y
oint where the Helen Marwas ffosen ii. II
ID l'---- IE
GgzaE- To what color dosa ! afogsiagl i
hangs : bore M ss8 Els