Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-04-20

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this will be the last meeting previous to the
regular annual meeting tor the election Of Of.
ficers. it is very essential that all members
SHOULD be present.
GREAT EXCITEMENT GREATER PRE.
rARArIoss GREATEST SELL.-In this time Of
general excitement when the people are arm.
ing for fight. when n-ig gnifcant rumors art
magn!hed into huge realities. and when the
most stupendous improbahities are reduced
to indubtable certainties in the twinkling O +
an eye. 1t may not be wondered at perhaps
that divers and sundry people are made tn e
subjects Of the most Imaginable hoaxng. Son
body got hoaxed yesterday. Some mischiev GUS
wight gave notice yesterday morning that IA
steamboat hai been up TO Galena and take n
on cargo of lead, which was to be tax, N
south and run into murderous buiets, al d
that said boat was TO he Il our levee ahoal
noon, bearing at the head of the ackstaf a
veritabe secession fag-the banner OF the
southern Confederacy The report flew like
wildfire. Iriighaton aroused, and the
teach the said craft lesson whenever she
should snub against our levee. AS the story
passed swiftly from lip to ear it lost nothing
Doubts were entertained as to whether it was
the Northsrner, the Frank Steele, or the Bay
State. The two first boats are owned, we be-
lieve, In Minnesota, end the latter by an abo-
l.tionist Of Pennsy lvania. But this WAS Lost
sight Of in the excitement-the question being
how shall we capture the rebel boatf
The excitement increased apace one Of our
military leaders began TO prepare the corps d.
armee for the fray. The field piecs was to be
prepared; there was plenty Of powder but no
balls The commanding officer. who is hard
ware merchant. bethought himself as the story
goes. that he had some gate chains, to which
sme iron balls were attached as weights
These were TO be used for the balls, and SO that
was fixed. The news got to the Sherif's ears.
and he hustled about among the military to
get them in battle array, and the report that
| the Sheriff had got dispatch concerning the
boat spread through the city. and made
the military pot boil alresh. The Davenport
y
titled the horses which move the brass can
non were put ia harness. and held in readiness
TO dash under whip and spur to the place
where the cannon wac waiting the Sbt riff
took buggy and rode post haste to the Buris
House, and bro"ght the Governor down town.
aud proceeded in hot haste to the boat office .
company with JUICES lawyers. and a rabble
Of citizens, and made inquiries and requa.ts
concerning the rebel boat The boat agent
was requested to let the Gov. know the no.
ment she hove in sight, that all reedful ,or e.
parations might be made How shall che be
attackeds That was the question An idea
struck somebody. or like wild colt ran our
friend Guiteau to the ferry boat. and mad. ar
rangements with Capt. Robinson to use his
boat as q nan-of.wsr for the occasion In or
effectualy, the cannon was to be placed on the
lore deck, aud the boat was to be followed and
peppsred at leisure.
General G. having completed arrsngemt nte
for that coup dy~rre, be made break Or ock
Island. and fired up the public mind Il .ere, and
got the war blood Of our sister city bling like
pot Ample preparations were m Ade in the
way Of piquet guards, and the attack ne ,,arty
began to take treath-to await tie appear
ance of the doomed boat. They co ngratulatei
themselves upon having her in a tight place
They specu'ated upon her Surprise when
steaming quietly along real ast iron ball in
the shape Of gate weight should be sent
whistling athwart her bows. 1t was exciting:
It was warlike it sma <k ed of Trafalgar. it
amelled Of powder and bloc d, aye blood. They
waied-waited. Soon . mice was smelIed
Pretty soon several N zee we're enuffed Maybe
there's q sell No ID ere eint didn't TIE
Sheriff get a dispatch The Sheriff said be
didn't. Well. didn'te and 90 say he knew it
was sol No, 60 ssd go didn't know 80 Who
did Nobody kr.sw exactly where the news
csme from. More tn ice were smelled. Pretty
soon. the cold began to edge away-got out Of
the crowd, didn't know anything about it.
Prstty soon thsy all new II was cell from the
beginning. OF courss. The doomed boat ar
fiFea no- Weary wi, h watching ,he watchers
Withdrew. The Last we cav Of the matter cur
'rleno jacob was sighting the curve Of the river
af"nnd brick warehouse. The horses were
u"harns ssed {. tcit sment cooled down, and
the sold we're off ering themselves at two BIT.
each.
LATER.-S P. k.-rae Northernsr arrived at
ABOUT o'clock oaded to the Guards with lead.
etc. The seees .ion flag part was not on. The
boat was not Y 'tsrfersd with BY the sold
Or any other nani
II - not OF en- that 90 many high dignitariss
get disposed Of in oar lovely citv in ons d.v
-or, or any bodv elsei