The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-09-01
DUCK RIVER.
FLAT BOATING INCIDENTS AND ADvEN-
TURES,

FLAT BOATING INCIDENTS AND ADVEN-
TUREs.
Forty-one years ago, if mistake not,
/ was employed as hand on board of
a flat boat to start out OF Duck River,
and bound for the Southern markets,
with a load of produce, consisting of
corn, pork, lard and whiskey. Corn in
this country was worth from Is to 20
cents per bushel. We navigated Duck
River with considerable difficulty, ma
king some hair-breadth escapes from
the snags and short crooks, and swift
currents. We made tie trip, and dis
missed some Is or 20 hands to return.
We were compelled to lie to for few
days at the mouth of the river, as the
wind was too strong for us to run safely.
We loosed cable and glided down slowly
for many days and nights, stopping only
when storms were expected from clouds
at sunset, and if the nights were clear,
we ran on until driven ashore by wind.
The owners OF the cargo, pilot and 2
other hands, constituted the crew, one
of whom was a stout negro man. All
boasted of their strength and valor. So
we moved on joyfully, passing various
floating crafts, and meeting often the
proud, high topped steamer, belching
black smoke and fire, and often we
blessed them, over The LETT, for throwing
us about like small chunks on a large
pond. So We moved on, and nothing
disturbed us in our iancied pleasure
trip, our pilot being full of fun and frolic.
We descended the great Father of wa
tiers with our little broad home, about
10 feet by 20, and passed and repassed
similarly made floats, and compliment
ed and saluted each other as became gen.
tlemen of the boating occupation.
Of
20 near the Chicasaw Bluff, now known |
rs Memphis, then village, dilapidated, |
and of no importance to US or any 9TH |
or floating craft no market and but few |
inhabitants, few Indians there trading
their bear skins for whiskey and red
blankets. We hauled TO and made fast, |
and all hands wanted to put their feet
once more ashore, so we moved off to
take stroll, leaving one man to watch
the boat. We reached the top OF the
bluff, but saw no one, except now and
then few Indians around little blaZ-
ing chunk they had brought in to keep
them warm whilst there trading. They
were nearly naked. There was one
building occupied by an old citizen of
Columbia originally; his name was
Uinson Grove, known to some of the ell
der gentlemen and ladies of the afOre-
said town, and not stranger to your
orator. and n gentleman of the first wa
ter. and in his day of Sunday clothes, was
regarded as not inferior to any man,
either inside or out-dressed fine, be-
hayed well-made the girls Of his day
and time put starch in their clothes.
lie had a small stock of goods to suit
the demands. He had good little
house nearly built, and tie only one in
the place that had paint on it. He made
us feel like we were somebody. We soon
left him, and moved on in the light of
the full moon, and strolled along the
road from the table, or bluff, until our
attention was attracted by the sound of a |
violin. which was charming to u.s. land we
made for it, We soon discovered it was |
n dancing party across the bayou. We |
soon arrived at the place, crossing high |
brl dye built on trestles, and after peep |
ing in and feeling little set back, as
we were not invited, we were little |
slow to enter the room, as the guests did |
not seem to us TO be of the most refined |
and fashionable. The gentlemen, or rath- |
or men, wore buck-skin pants and hunt |
ing shirts of the same, and fringed with |
strings cut fine. Our pilot, however, |
was not much confused, and soon par |
took of the mirth of the party. The mu-
sic and dance he enjoyed greedily. |
About that time / was getting fixed to |
leave, and just as L was about to start, |
one of the fellows had not been watch |
ing, came down on me with a large |
stick, knocked me out of the door, |
broke my nose bridge and cut to the |
bone i'm my eye brow, but / was much |
better satisfied to be in the moon shine |
out of doors than in the house penned |
up with their leather coats and big |
knives. If we did not exactly run, we |
done some tall walking. Bang bang :!
bang!!, went a fun half dozen pistols,
and we did not return the fire, and not |
being accustomed to charging such bats
teries, we thought little pru-
denco was the better part of yalor. l
did not get the start in the race of my
travelling pilot, but was much faster
than him on a race. / made the bridge
in his front many yards. Some of the
pursuing party succeeded in cutting off
his retreat, he having lost some time in
recovering his white beayer. lie
thought good hat he could not loose, so
he plunged into the bayou and swan
over, not much injured. We made di-
rcctly for our float, and did not hesitate
TO loose all holds and get along down the
rapid stream, wind or calm, il mattered
not. Some of tho party enjoyed the
Joke, but for myself and the pilot, it was
not funny TO relate the particulars OF
thepartv. OLD TIMES.