East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-10-14
Illuminated against a steamboat And

yet the pilot only rang his bells, the
engine ratified and banged and away
we went as if the 'jolly boatman" had
not been disturbed in his fiddling.-
We began to enjoy steamboating, and
went to bed in better humor with our
self and the world at large, and slept
soundly until the jolly song of the
firemen awoke us next morning. We
lay along side Of coal barge, with
the prospect of staying there srveral
hours remarkable bright. Our late
good nature began to wane, and our
wonder whether we should ever get
under way again grew into impatience
Just above us floating upon the swollen
st-oa,,, ~~------ NN
there is commotion on board and two
men push off from her in canoe, one
padding furiously and the other hold
ing rifle ready for instant use. Close
scrutiny discovered deer in the river
nearly abreast of us, and in few mo-
ments the yawl with three men from
our steamer was making for the game.
The canoe had the advantage of the
current and distance, but the huge
oars of the yawl were better propellers
than single paddle. However, the
race was close one, and the riheman
in the canoe while yet some distance
away, raised his rifle and taking as
deliberate aim as his uncertain foot
ing would permit fired. Anxiously
we watched to see the effect upon the
deer; but the canoe demanded our in
slant attention. The deer was safe,
but the recoil ofthe rifle had staggered
the riHeman and in trying to regain
his equilibrium he upset the canoe,
and such splasshing and swearing as
took place then and there was, at
least, amusing. The yawl now had
the lead, and was close upon the deer,
one of the men goes forward TO the
bow to sieze and take the deer OH
board as soon as it is overtaken. The
deer swims downstream rapidly in
vain, the strong hand of the man in
the bow of the yawl is upon its horns,
and now, look, he lifts it out of the
water-no, not quite The deer gives
sudden and vigorous plunge, and
over goes the man into the river. In
the meantime the canoe has righted,
and while the yawl is picking up its
man, comes down upon the deer, again
having the lead. Very much after
the manner of the man in the yawl,
the man in the canoe is plunged into
the river, greatly to his incon-
venience and loss and much to the
amusement of the yawl and steam
boat people. Now the yawl has the
advantage, and this time the pilot un-
dertakes to make the capture. He
placed himself in the bow and the
race becomes more exciting than ever.
The canoe is but few feet away, and
any accident will give the game to the
hat-boat.. Steadily the yawl ap-
proaches upon tho now thoroughly
tagged out game and as it comes
along side, the pilot calls out to the
canoe, 'now boys look here there
many animals more easily managed
by the tail than by the head' and
suiting the action to the word ignom-
iniously drowned the deer by raising
its tail so high that it could not "kecr
its head above water" Proudly he
lifted it into the boat and brought il
on board triumphantly.
The coal was loaded, and wo were
once again going Southwark with a
new stock of patience and a better
idea of steamboating, and on the
fourteenth day after leaving Cincin.
natl arrived without adventure at New
Orleans.