The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-06


time, and that two aspiring leaders with their
classes, were to meet there and sing for prize,
and the party that won the prize was totake the
first honor at the convention. | then learned
that the prize consisted of beef. Having nc
business just then requiring my PresenceH de-
termined to see the show, and SO next day
wended my way to the church. On arrival
was surprised to see SO many people and SO few
vehicles, but walked in and took my seat, in
tending TO be an humble spectator and see the
fun. was not left long in suspense. After
moving the benches in such manner as to
form three sides of hollow square, the Red
Bone Glass, who opened the show, arranged
themselves in manner peculiar to themselves,
the leader standing in the middle, who said
something about "key A, two seconds, three
beats in, bar" and then, says he "take the
sound;' thinks l, that's the sacred harmony l
read OF in the notice on the tree) before had
time to turn over my tobacco, as if by magic,
with mouths wide open, the singing commen-
ced; the confusion of voices sounded like dogs
bowling, bullfrogs croaking, babies crying, and
several other noises have heard. Talk about
your forty pianos, Why sixty pianos could not
have equaed that noise, accompanied by tam
borines, fddles and a "harp of thousand
strings" I lostmy equilibrium, and just gain
ed my balance in time to hear them say, "To
him all majesty ascrlbe, and crown him lord OF
all" A few more tunes were sung, and after 81
lence and recess Of ten minutes, the benches
were occupied by the class from Kinchafoonee,
led by a tall, gapnt looking fellow, who arms
akimbo, chest forward, assuming the gravity Of
a king) exclaimed in tone of command, page
67,"a general futtering of leaves in the book,
taking the sound and then vocal music. Put
me with squealing pigs, crying babies, and last
of ALL in bed with snoring man, but never let
my ears be greeted again by such harsh, dis
cordant sounds. Ny attention was specially di
rected to huge, ugly looking fellow, who, |
thought, was trying to swallow his head. whose
mouth looked like an OK cart full of pitchforks.
| recovered from my trance in time to hear the
close of the last verse, which ran thus: '1'm
left, | know not how, the lights from me with
drawn" This class soon vamoosed and as soon
as order could be restored, the judges, who
were appointedto decide the matter, retired to
make up verdict, or see who had won the beef
They had not gone long before they returned
with ''miss trial." Mr.. B, of the Red
Bone Bass" contended for the prize--tbe Kin
chafoonee leader claimed it, and the thing
would have broken up in row, but for the
timely interference of squire c., when all
hands consented that he should divide the beef,
which he did as follows: II decide" said he
s'that the beef be killed first, righteous deci
sion) and that the treble, on each side, be pre-
sented with hind quarter, the leaders. each q
fore quarter, and the hide and tallow be soId
and the proceeds be invested in jug ofrea eye
and that the crowd generally, gals and leaders
excepted, take a pull at the jug" Whereupon
squire c. advanced dollar on the hide,
and the cred eye" was soon at hand. A gen
eral charge was made at the jug, which ended
in two or three fights, and the boys soon got 50
boisterous, mounted, and left them in the en-
joyment Of the sayory and delicious beverage
DARING FEAT AT NIAeARA,-A correspond
ent of the Chicago Press and Tribune gives the
following particulars of the recent insane hazard
at Niagara Falls, of Signor Gaspa Morelii alias
Andrew Greenleaf, dare devil yankee boy,
who, for a wager of 81 coo, on Monday week,
walking upon stills, between Goat Island and
the falls. This writer says:
PunctualIy at O'Clock, MorelIi appeared. in
fine spirits and condition. He had with him a
pair ofastilts about twelve feet long, made OF
wrought iron, fiat, sharp-edged and pointed
shaped, in fact, almost precisely like q double
edged dagger. These were firmly lashed to his
legs. and he walked towards the terrible river
with confident smile. The morning was clear
and cold, but he was attired very lightly, in a
dress not unlike that usually worn by profess
sional gymnasts. At ten minutes past seven
he stepped into the water which in another mo-
ment was boiling, surging, and rushing beneath
his feet The boldest of the lockers on held his
breath in suspense. as the daring man receded
from shore. He alone seemed unmoved and
passed on, slowly and carefully, avoiding the
larger rocks which we're made apparent by the
eddying current. His steps at first were very
short and carefully made, but afterwards be-
came boder and longer,
The stits, OF course, were so placed that the
current struck only against their sharp edges,
and produced but little effect, but the danger
from the sunken rocks, and the conviction that
d single false step would send him to death,
produced feeling that was horribly painful.
Once or twice he lost his balance, and sick
ening shudder ran through each one of the
beholders. Recovering himself, he still kept
on-still receded, till to our strainng eyes he
could scarsely be distinguished from the foam
ing waters. The middle of the river was At
tanned at last hours seemed to have fled, but
barely seventeen minutes had elapsed since he
left the shore. AS he approached the deepest
and most dangerous part Of his route, the sus-
pense became more fearfully intense. Noword
was spoken, except that one man offered anoth
er FIVE dollars for a moments use of his lorg
nette, which offer passed unheeded.
just as MoreIli reached the swiftest and deep
est portion OF the current, he seemed to totter-
sink-he threw up his arms; | closed my eyes.
Opening them moment after, | saw that he
was fill standing. A few moments more, and
he had reached the Canadian bank-and fell
exhausted into the arms of two men who we're
waiting for him.
At this hour 6 P. NJ he has nearly recoy-
cred, and though still in bed, receives the con
of dozens Of visitors who come
1ouring in He left the American shore 900
eet above the fall, and came out about 1000
above the Canadian. The money has already
oeen handed over to him, and all will agree
hat it was fairly won.
WEALTH OF LouIs1ANA-The New Orleans
Delta give some estimates and statistics, which,
hough they may not approximate very closely