The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-02-13

vice on the United States steamer Cor
vette, one OF the transport vessels engag.
ed in carrying troops and munitions of
war for the army commanded by Cen
eral Taylor.
lie went as far west as the Rio
Grande, navigating that stream in the
Government service, having many in.
teresting and perilous adventures with
Mexlcans on the western bank of the
river, and among many other things
learning from them the use of the lariat
Returning home in the fall of 1916,
he was married in December to sec.
ond cousin, Sarah, the daughter of Gill
bert Devol, Esq, of Lancaster, Ohio
Not long afterward he was appointed
Captain on one of the finest packet
boats runping between Pittsburgh and
Cincinnati. One of these line boats
went up, and another down the river
every day but it was customary tor
the passengers to wait several days for
the steamer commanded by Captain
Pres. Devol.
AT this time he was about twenty-five
years old. He was six feet high, and
weighed about one hundred and ninet,
pounds, portly, but not corpulent, we'll
built, erect in his gait, and of command
ing presence, He was always dressed
in excellent taste, and his gentlemauly
fine looking figure attracted the eye
among a crowd. His features were of
the Roman cast, and his voice, though
powerful, was agreeable IN its tone
Captain Devol was pronounced by the
men the most buoyant campanion, and
by the ladies the handsomest man upon
the river.
Take the following instance as Illus
trating his character at this period.
One night at Pittsburgh, Pres. went to
the Thealer, A man had left his seat
for short time and gone out. Pres.
coming in took the vacant place. Pree.
emily the man returned. coarse, ruffian
ly fellow, and said TO him: "Get out
ofthat, you are in my seat" Pres
looked at him moment with his great
black eyes, and said; Ifyou had ask
cd me for it in gentlemanly manner,
you should have your seat but now
shall keepit. Help yourself If you cam,
The man went to call the police, and re-
turning with an officer, stated his griev.
ance, Pres told the policeman that if
the seat had been asked for in a proper
manner he would give it up, but now he
intended to keep it. The policeman
talked quietly short time, but told
I'res. he must give up his seat, or he
would call his comrades and put him out
of the Theater. Thereupon Pres. blew
his boatswain's whistle, and called out,
"All the boys In the Theater that be-
long to Clipper No 2. CoMr HEREw--
Forthwith dozen stalwart fellows came
tumbling toward him, tieroe for a fight.
"Now," said Pres to the police, ''ifyou
want muss, you can have it, and we
will clean out the Theater. Or, if you
choose to be quiet very we'll but 1 an
going to keep my seat" The police
withdrew, and Pres, said to the actors,
who had suspended the performance,
"Now you may 60 on with your play
Through the next eight or ten years,
Pres. continued to act as an officer upon
steamboats,, a part OF the time on the
Ohio river, aud part of the time in the
Southern trade, on the Mississippi, and
as far downward as Mobile.
1nnumerable adventures occurred dur
ing this portion Of his life, Take few
as samples. A feeling of bitter rivalry
exist cd between the cities of Pittsburgh
and Wheeling. Pres. sided with Pitts
burgh. A magnificent wire suspension
bridge, among the first in America, had
been built at Wheeling, across the OHIO
river. Suits at law agalns the bridg
were instigated by the citizens Of Pitts.
burgh, and immense sums Of money
were expended. While the contest was
al its height, Pres. steamed under the
bridge one day, with very tall chimneys
erected on bis boat, that were said to
be eighty feet in height. The Ohio was
flooding its banks, aud the gigantic
chimaeys, of course, were knocked fat
upon the deck, thus furnishing the cIti>
zens Of Pittsburgh with a coveted op.
portunity Of demanding the removal Of
the bridge, as obstruoting the naviga-
ton of the Ohio. The citizens Of
Wheeling were stirred into whirlwind
Of excitement as they witnessed the act,
and threatened to stone Captain Devol's
boat on its upward passage. But no
serious results, either at the law or from