The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-08
evening State SullrnaL
TUESDAY EvE'G. AUGUST 8, 1871.
[From the Capital.1
THE NORFOLK BOAT-RACE.

kind-hearted and appreciative public afore-
said will understand the pardonable COM
placency with which The Capital points to
the enterprise and outlay that enables it to
lay before its readers our especial Cor
respondents" minute and circumstantial
report Of the Potomac's notable victory of
Thursday last:
Editors Cdpital,- In accordance with in
structions, embarked upon the Lady of
the Lake on Wednesday last, and soon the
city sank in the dim distance as the noble
boat, freighted with the manly beauty and
womanly strengthen something of that
kind-of Georgetown and vicinity, sped
down the broad Potomac on its way to con-
quest. Everybody was on deck enjoying
the refreshing breeze. A few miles below
Alexandria the boat passed quiet little
village just as the sun tinted the river.
The bell in little church in the distance
was flinging back last goodnight smile
upon the emeral village, which was being
tolled for evening service, and as the mel
low music hoated across the listening
water, a tall man, with long hair and a
yellow duster, who had been contempla-
lively sucking his umbrella handle ever
since we started, turned to your corres-
pondent and said reflectively:
That reminds INC Of piahvi, ulu ever
tell you about him? '
replied that he certainly had not
''Sluker," continued the thin man, in an
absent-minded manner, twas co,ker,
there is no mistake about that.
'Like the ghost at Booths, he was a ter
ror to the peaceful Hamlet. He was always
getting up shindys without the slightest
provocation, and was evidently possessed
of the most unpleasant ambition, as well as
40, Ia fIoa Il
tachments of one.
''Things got to be so bad after while
that the bark was rubbed off every tree in
town on account of the people incontnent-
ly shining up them whenever Sluker came
insight.
'sIt was no unusual thing to see business
entirely suspended for hours, while Sluker
marched up and down the street, whistlmg,
with his hands in his pockets, and every
soul in the place, from the minister down,
roosting as high as they could get, six on a
branch sometimes.
''Matters went ON in this way until one
day little incident occurred that somewhat
discouraged this gentle youth. He had just
returned from discussion with butcher,
from the effects of which the latter now
sleeps in the Valley when party of his
fellow-townsmen entered the store in which
he was loafing, and ordered a coil of half
inch rope from Washington by the morn
ing's boat.
at was the overland route that Sluker
took for California, and when his aged
mother heard that three eyes had been
She wept tears of Joy. Her fond heart
told her that the perilous journey was over,
and her darling boy was safe.
g A flor fau vpoTS of n brilliant carapr no
bethought him again of the place of his
birth. His heart yearned for the gentle de-
lights--the heavy laden trees-of his boy
hoods home. He said he must go.
Ills friends said he must go, too. In
fact they had already appointed select and
vigilant committee to see him safely on his
FIN some respects Suker came back an
altered man. The stamp of change was on
his noble face, indeed it had been stamped
on itself, until it looked like a wax doll UNI
der hot stove. But he still retained his
warlike spirit.
''There was not so much chance Of in
dulging it now, however. The fire compa-
ny had disbanded, and nearly every one had
grown rich enough to own shotgun. There
was only one chance left
SHE Joined the Presbyterian choir.
'sNot that he had much of a voice, though
he used to play Comm thro the Rye OH
the fiddle sometimes, until he got it going
tirouqh him so much he couldn't draw 9
note.
'Nobody would have taken them if he
had.
swell, Sluker had pretty warm time
Of it in the choir, and enjoyed himself very
much, until they got q new organlst, who
pitched everything in high c. which wa!
this young mans strong lead.
Gas the choir always sang in G, ofcous'
there was row the first Sunday, and i
was generally understood that Sluker wa
going to fix Middlerib that night.
"When the evening service commenced
and the choir was about to begin, the con
gregation were startled by an ominous clcl
in the gallery, and on looking up, they be
held Sluker covering the organist's secon'
shirt-stud with his revolver.
"'Give us G, Mr.. Middlerib, if yor
pleased - he said blandly.
"But the pirate on the high C's refuse
to Gee, and whoa was the natural result
s'The confusion that followed was terri
hit him with the music stool. The sopra
no was thrown over the railing, and some
body turned off the gas.
SIN the ensuing darkness every one ski
mished for themselves. Sluker took off hi
boots and hunted for Midderib in his stocl
ing feet.
"Suddenly he heard single note on Il
high c. He CROPPED his way to the key
board, but there was one there. b.
''The solution rushed upon him Middl
RIB must be IN the organ.
Gle crept around to the handle and bo
his weight on it.
SIT was too true /; the unhappy wret'
had cut hole in the bellows and crawl,
in it. But for his ruling passion he wou
have escaped. He had tried to breat
through the high c. hole.
s'Tnere were few muffle1 groans as t
handle slowly descended upon the doom
man, and as the breath rushed out of
body into his favorite pipe, the wild high
of agony that ran through the sacred edifi
told them that all was over.
"Let us draw veil over the horrid p
ture."
/ was very much interested in this stoI
merry much indeed, and so l jostled
long-haired man-who was about fall
asleep-and asked him if anything W
done to this wicked Sluker.