The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-02-13
'e mob, followed this huge, practical


lashed together by twos aud threes,
fioated to Cincinnati The returning
crews, flushed with money, were often
riotous, The butcher knife, worn at
the waist in its leather sheath, and en-
ployed to cut bread and meat, was often
drawn in quarrels, and sometimes used
with deadly effect On one occasion,
when in sudden quarrel. several were
wounded and one man was killed Pres.
put the rioters in iron, and returning to
Cincinnati, committed them to iail to
await their trial.
Another time, riot having broken
out on the boat. Pres. ordered his mate
to quell it, oaths and yells arose from
the deck, knives were drawn, and in the
center of the melee gigantic Irishman
was flourIshing his fists in the Wind
mill style, and knocking down his enc,
mics like ninepins. TIE mate was
afraid. Thereupon, Pres, went down
among them, singing the angry men to
the right and left like children, and
making straight for the tall leader, seiz
ed him from behind by each elbow, and
trotting his prisoner before him as if he
were little boy, to the edge of the deck
said to the pilot, Head her In to the
shore! As the boat neared the land,
Pres, gave his captive tremendous
hoist that pitched him into the mud and
water at the rivers edge, and the boat
moved back into the channel, leaving an
infurlated Irshman stamping and yelling
on the river bank, far away from any
human habltation.
In later years, on his way to New
Orleans, blackleg committed misde-
meauor, and Pres. promptly put him
on shore in the wilderness. The en-.
ragged man went to nelghboring town
and waited for the upward passage of
the boat. In due time it came. When
it landed, Pres. went up to an office in,
the town for the transaction of business
While there a friend came into the
room, and. after warning Pres. that his
enemy and two companions, with piss
tolls and bowie knives, were waiting for
him outside, asked:
Captain Devol, are you armed 2
'No.'
Then take ny pistol
THANK YOU said Pres, clinching his
fists, 4 want no weapons but these
which nature gave me-
Ho left the Office, and there, between
him and the river, stood the ruflians
armed to the teeth. But the fist was
quicker than the pistol. Before they
could draw their weapons Pres. was
upon them. The first man fell like an
OK under the butchers ak; crashing
blow sent down the second with a
broken jaw; moment after, the third
went spinning against fence with such
force that his head made a dent in the
board where it struck, and Pres. walked
down to bis steamboat.
he GOES TO TIE PACIFIC.
During the excitement which followed
the discovery of gold in California he
visited that region, making II sea voyage
for the purpose. In the course of the
voyage storm came up; the vessel
struck upon a rock and sprung Leak
A sailor who was sent below to see how
much water was in the hold, acclden.
tally touched bale of cotton with his
candle. Instantly it leaped iuto a blaze,
and he ran on deck crying out, 'Fre
kreI ire!' The ascending flame and
smoke filling all the hold, confirmed the
wild cry. The Captain lost his presence
of mind, and gave contradictory orders.
The crew were in confusion, and all on
board were giving themselves up as lost,
In this terrible emergency, Pres, said to
the Captain, Give me command of the
vessel can save you all, and the ship
besldes.' The Captain came forward
and directed the sailors to obey the COM
mands Of Captain Devol, He ordered
the matches to be tightly closed, turned
steam into the blazing hold un til the fire
Was extinguished, set the terrified sailors
to work at the pumps, and saved the
vessel in Its last extremity. On board
were number OF wealthy men Full
OF grateful admiration toward Captain
Devol for the preservation of their lives,
they gave him dinner on shlpboard,
and presented him witha gold watch,
and purse of four hundred dollars. =
On reaching California they introduced
him to the best society OF San Francisco,
gave suppers and dinner parties in his
honor, and exerted themselves to the
utmost in rendering his visit among
them agreeable, He travelled here and
there over tho country aud spent q