Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-15
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81 TIE Young 'us.

RT TIE YOUNG OK.
Early in the spring Of the last year, nagnia-
cent new steamer was launched upon the Ohio river,
snd shortly afterwards made her appsaraeee 81 the
levse opposite the fourishng city q Cincinnati.
Gilt edged covers enYeloped the Captains ere
eneets" sccomuanied with iirvitations to stsss her
through upon her first trip being forwarded to the
editorial corps in that vicinity, the ohalked hats we're
ssnumerous' on the occasion. It vas grand aGair,
fhis debut Of floating palaces which has since main
tanned her reptile untsrnished as the ieraek boat"
par excellence upon the Western Wsters. Your hum
bic servant was among the invited euesis--aad
nice time he had Of It.
found myself on board Of this beautifal craft, in
close Communion -Eith a score Of unanes.icnable
beauties. The company proved 70 be 3 heterogO-
nous cOnglomeration Of charaeter-nade up Of edi
tors lawyers, and auctioneers, indeseribsbles and
ssfanciesD-rith sprinRling Of tnOnsuches."
There was stray person. toe, in the crowd but as
mis- leisure time "betWeen meetings was spent IN
trading horses we dispensed with his s'erace before
meals" asA
We left our mooriugs an hour before sunset, upon
4 clear cold Afternoon, and passed rapidly down
stream for q ccnsidersble distance, without any
strange occurrence. The asOn Of temperance and
the parson Aforesaid amused themselves
smoking whisky toddy-the sb0ys'' we're. relieving
each other Of their superfuous dimes aad quarters
at euchre, when a taA gentleman who was some
when he was sober, stepped suddenly INTO the cabin
with the information that well known sfast boat
had Just hove IN sight at the month CT The Kentucky
river. The cards were dropped instanter, the
punches disappeared, and the ssmourRers' were
soon distributed in knots upon The promenade deck
70 note the progress Of events.
Our t'bnlly boat sped away like a bird, however,
and the craft behind gave early evidence that
she should ofsr nc ehild's play. the .fat was 10
the FIRE" at onoe--a large column of black smoke
curled up In the clear atmosphere-an extra turn OF
two was visible upon our own boat ana away We
wentl A good deal Of excitement 'e1lsted among
the party as the rival steamer was clearly gaining
on us A craft like ours with such company, and
such a Captain, musn't be beaten.
AS the boat behind US fell in under stern, and
ne could count her passengers sort Of impression
came over US that By some mistake we had got upon
the wrong boat! At least that was the expressed
opinion Of the parsOn, as he threatened to 60 down
stairs and take another drink.
Our captain was q noble fellow-he paced the
deck quietly, with a constant eye to the WinWard
but he said nothing A bevy of the mourners step
ped up to him with ...l
sfVhat speed oapnY" .a ...... ..-....-
= ssFair. gentlemen: think it is very fair" res
pended the captain, as he placed his hand upon
small brass knob st the back Of the pilot house.
This movement was responded 10 BY the faint jing
ling bell below, followed Immediately by rush
of cinders from the smoke pipes, and an improved
action Of the padles.
Snow We move again"
s'Some," was the response and momentary tre-
NOR pervaded the boat she slid along right smart
Nv d -za- 1T -....-l- = -.-- =
But the craft in our. rear moved like our shadow
on the calm waters, and we shot down the river,
q il seemed as if we had her in tow, 80 calmly and
uniformly did she follow in our wake. $50 l-sla
The excitement Of the congregation upon deck
had by this time become intense and Il was pretty
plain that the boats must shortly part company or
split something? The rascal behind US took advan-
-tspe of q turn in the channel and 'sheim star
board!n was clearly heard from the look out of our
rival as she hove off and suddenly fell alongside Of
usl The parson went below at once 20 put his threat
into execution, as We came up the current again,
sineck and neck, and when he returned were run
ming twenty I've knot lick, The steam smack on to
40 degrees. $3.50. as-
"Shes going-going, GO muttered an aue-
tioneer to himself
"a perfect nousuit,' remarked lawyer to his
friend.
s'Beaten, butnot vanquished, +" added politician;
and away We scudded side by side for half mile.
wouldn't she bear leetle more" meekly asked
The parson.
Don't get excited, gentleman; my boat is a new
her reputation and mine is at stake. We mustn't
rush her-raoing always Injuries boat, and am
aEerse to it; saying which he applied his thumb and
finger to the brass knob again-the bell tingled in
the distance-and our rival pilot shortly had an
opportunity to examine the architecture Of our rud-
der post! -... ....-.
was acquainted with the engineer. Istepped be-
low believing we should be beaten at our present
speed, and entering the engine room
SO Tim, wen be icked-give her another turn,
eh?"
81 rather think she moves some as it is" said
Tim
"Yes, but the C--is hard on us-give her lit
lie, my boy-just for
iStay in here amoment," remarked Tim, ''its all
q mum you knOw-nothing to be said, eh? Quiet
there don't she trembls some?"
I noticed for the first time, that our boat did la
Dor prOdigiouslyl
"But come round here, continued Tim "look
1here!-mum's the word, you know"
stepped out Of that engine-room Tim said after
wL~ds that sprang out at one bound; but he lied y
IN a hurry. The solder upon the connection pipe
had melted and run down over the seams in dozen
places, from the excessive heat-a eroW-bar was
braced athWart thesafety valve with fifty six upon
the eDd--snd We were shooting down the Ohio, IN
der q head of steam chock up TO o. 40!
Ny sleeping apartment was well aft l entered
the state roOm-got over upon the back side Of my
BERTRAND stufing the corners Of the pillow into
my ears and endeavored TO compress myselfin sleep
1t was out Of the question In attempting to right
myself l discovered that my hair stuck Gus so
straight that it was impossible for me to get my
head within six inches Of the pillow.
tossed about till daylight, in momentary eEpeo-
tation of being landed in Kentucky Tor somewhere
else y but we got on finely. We lead rival half
an hour in Louisville audI Immediately sRore upon
my nightca that l never would accept invita-
t on for pleasure trip from q steamboat captain
who was averse to racing