Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-11-23
A NlSSlssIPPI REMIAIsCENCE.
a Race Agetnst Time-EEumentty VS.
Steam.
From the New York Ever

scenes, particularly to the Northern man
10 whom everything is so fresh and novel
Il WAS just after the close of the war tha
he writer took passage at st. Louis TO
Memphis, on the steamer Marble City, tt
whose captain be bore letter OF introauo
ton from mutual friend. A5 is usual,
fresh crew of negroes had been shipped 81
St. Louis, to the number of about thirty
They frequently gathered on the bow o
the steamer and sung their quaint songs
and danced to the music of fiddle. banjo
and the bones, to their hearts content.
Our arrival at the first landing had, how
ever. put stop to all froic, and hare
work began for the crew in earnest.
After two Or three landings had beer
made, the mate reported to the captain
that the crew comprised some very ''hard'
negroes, and he was afraid he should have
much difficulty IN keeping them in order
This was Immediately after the close of the
war, and the negroes had not then become
accustomed TO their liberty; of the few who
would work ct al, many did so as cover
to rob and steal; and, under the belief
that srhe Bureau" would do anything and
everything for them, acted very much as
they pleased.
Nothing unusual occurred, however, till
nearly sunset, when, as the captain and the
writer were seated upon the uppermost
deck of the steamer and near the pilot
house, sudden noise and tumult, mingled
with g couple of pistol shots, was heard
below and on the bow of the boat.
Looking over, the captain seemed to
comprehend in moment the trouble, and
at once sprang for the companion ladder
Descending about half way down if, he
leaped thence into writhing mass of ne
groes who were engaged in fight on the
lower deck, and evidently were beating the
prostrate man. After him plunged one of
the two pilots then at the wheel; and the
other white officers of the boat speedily
coming to the scene, the negroes were at
once taken from the PROSTATE man, and
one who was evidently the rinaleader. was
captured with knife in his hand, no
doubt intending murder. The man res
cued proved to be the mate, who, having
ordered the captured negro to Dc some
work. had been saucily answered, and still
insisting, had been struck By the mutineer.
The whole gang at once attacked the mate
and but for the promptness of the captain
and officers, would probably have killed
| him.
a council YVES held and it was determin-
ed to put the captured ringleader ashore in
| the woods, as the captain said that if he
took him to the authorities of the next
stopping place, he would probably lose
several days at his trial, and would be q
marked man by the negroes.
| It was now nearly dark. end word WAS st
once given to run the bow of the boat
ashore, which being done, the ringleader
| jumped from OFF the bow and disappeared
in the darkness. The boat then swung off
into the river and we proceeded on our
| Journey. But short stay vas made at
foIr oft IL
the river, we arrived at Memphis on the
evening of the second day following. As
we approached the levee the captain anus
| ed the passengers with an account of his
previous trips to the city since the war,
and remarked that every time he had ar
! rived he had found tao provost marshais
| guard awaiting him to escort him to the
.'office," there TO answer some absurd
charges trumped up by the negro hands of
the previous voyages. This time he cen
graduated himself that the skirts of his
coat were particularly clean, es he had had
no difficulty with his hands on the last two
| trips, and the little trouble with the negro,
! es mentioned above, had been settled by
| leaving that parsonage in the woods above
| Cairo.
| AS we neared the shore, hoWever,a q guard
did show themselves upon the levee, and
our captain tacetiously wanted TO know
which of his passengers or crew were
needed.
AS the boat was made fast, the officers OF
the guard approached and requested to
speak with the captain. The latter's face
was q treat to see, as he took q paper from
| the officer and read therein an order re-
questing him to appear before the Provost
Marshal and answer to charge OF at
tempting to murder, three nights previous
ly, one Pompey Smith, ''by fierce blows
and pistol shots, and by placing him IN q
wounded condition and at night in the
swemps to die.
s'Why," quoth the Captain, ''that's the
darkey we put ashore above Cairo. How
in thunder did he ever get there? We are
the first boat down, and there is no rail
read except the enc running from Mem
| phis short way up the river; and besides,
he never could have got out Of the woods
SO soon."
Cant help that, said the officer; 'sbui
he is at the Office awaiting US So let Us be
going"
All the officers and passengers repaired
to the place There in very sooth was the
negro, grinning il great glee at gettine
ahead of Massa Captain. Somehow his face
seemed familiar to me, more SO than il
should be from only seeing him the few
minutes 1 did before he was put off; but
these negroes were so plentifal, and some
how they al seem alike, that thought lit
tie OF it.
The complaint was read and IS quickly
answered. The negro could show III
wounds, and our testimony went far TO-
wards establishing against him an attempt
to kill, instead of sustaining his charge
against the Captain. So the ease was a
once dismissed, and the Captain was offer
ed q chance to prefer his charge agains
Pompey. Mindful, however, Of long de
lays before the courts, he refused, and
Captain, Pompey, officers and passenger
walked out Of the office together.
When We got outside, the captain, sud
denly said, 'sPompey I'llgive you $5 if you
will tell me how you got down ahead OF my
boat"
"Dat's bully, Massa Osptain," was the
negro's ready reply, 'you put dat i've dol
lars in dis gen'lman's hand, and I'll tel
you how got down"
The money was placed, therefore, in my
possession, and Pompey, striking an atti
tude proceeded with his explanation, evi
IDENTIFY hugely delighted at his numerous
and attentive audience.
sYou mind. Massa Captain, when
jumped ashore?"
'tYeS, yes, SAID the captain.
ssWeI, Mass, 1 land in de water and dt
mud, and tinks good deal. I fraid tt
move in de dark, and wid do boat and d,
paddles all banging around dar. Well
Massa, pilot he ring de bell so starn vic
one wheel and go head wild de oder wheel
and SO de boat she swing round; and by
and by, all in de dark, the starn OBJ de boa
come round to dis chile as be was dar il
. de water. So jist took hold ob de rud
der chains, and l drawed myself up int
de little boat at de starn, and lay dar til
de folks go to bed in de boat, and den
crawl out and tell the cook I done gon
hungry, and gelly, Massa, how did scar
dat cook ! He thought ] was ghost, sure
Well, ne glib me something to eat, and del
he cut my har all short, end den I tell
some Of de boys, and the berry next morn
lug l goes to work on de boat and gets m
rations just like everybody.
s.Do YOU mean TO sell rne," said the Cap
tain 'sthat you rode all the way down tn
river in my own boat, and Just under N
0 eyes and those of the mate, whom yo
: tried to kill?"