Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-04-05
1s51 Isaf For the Chronicle.
LETTER FROM ASHLAND CITY.
A Negro Takes Steamboat.


MEssRs. EDITORS: A little trans
action occurred at the wharf of oul
quiet city on Sunday night, the 23rd Of
March, which would, if it had trans
pired in more populous place. have
created some excitement, but as il
was furnished to those engaged in it a
small matter for recreation.
On the down trip of the steamer
Silverthorn, the Stewart of the boat,
a specimen of the 14th amendment,
amounting to about two hundred and
fifty pounds avoirdupois, violated a
rule of the boat, the penalty for which
was go ashore" and in order to ear
ry out the judgment, the boat landed
at our wearf and the man and brother
was told that he must vacate. This
he roundly refused to do, and after
every argument had been used by the
officers of the boat, to no effect, one
of which was, they attempted to cut
off his supplies of ''benzine," but he
put head ON this by telling the bar
keeper that he would have whisky or
blood" and the barkeeper wisely con
cluded that whisky was the cheaper,
and better suited IS an article of trea-
ty, let him have his choice. Finding
all their efforts to dislodge their un-
welcome guest futile, they determined
to invoke the strong arm of the law,
accordingly sent out for the Sheriff to
come and eject him. The Sheriff be-
ing informed of the facts and circum-
stances, declined to act in the prem
ises, unless they would bring him
writ charging the party with some
specific offence. Believing that he
had no right to interfere with any
mans domestic establishment, without
a warrant of law, and believing that
the boat and crew made up that estab-
and that the captain was the
head therefore, he had the right and
was in duty bound as an act of justice
to those who were travelling with him,
to enforce his authority. Not so,
however, with some of the young men
of our place; they could not resist the
the appeals made them for relief, and
went down determined to help those
who could not, or would not help
themselves. But when they got on
board the cause of all the trouble
could not be found, Notwithstanding
strict watch had been kept on his
he, was not to be SEEM
The boat was searched from hold to
texas, without success; finally upon
looking into one of the rooms in the
ladies' cabin, the object of their search
was found wrapped up head and ears,
fully dressed even to his shoes, keep
ing time to the whizzing of steam from
eaky pipes and valves, with uneupho-
NOUS noises from the nasal extrem-
ty of his countenance. On being
aroused from his maudlin slumber, he
was told to vacate, but stubbornly re-
fused. However, on. taking more
extended view of the situation, and
seeing four young men whose average
height was considerably over six feet,
and perhaps seeing something in their
faces or peradventure in their hands,
that he had not seen before, and to
these having been added some stron-
ger arguments than had been used,
md seeing they meant business, and
On again being told to git he yield
to the ''ris major" and got to the
great relief of all on board, as, no
loubt, they felt as much relieved as if |
some uncaged wild animal had been
aiken from their midst. As he who, /
20 use his own words, ''had had the !
BOAT all to himself, and had reigned |
With the will of an autocrat was leav- !
ng the scene of his recent triumphs, !
he was followed by the jeers and
.aunts of those who, short time be-
fore, were covering in his presence
ike whipped spaniels. while the young
men, who had done for the crew what !
hey out to have done for themselves,
we're loaded with thanks and protesta-
lions of lasting gratitude.
The boys marched him up town,
md pointed out to him the habitation
of some of his own sort, where he
took up his abode for the remainder
Of the night, and the next morning
took the stage for Nashville, perhaps
a wiser if not better man.
,.e,.e,-,r. ANON.