The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-13
MIKE FINK.
THE LAST OF THE BOATMEN,
BY MORGAN NEVILLE.

prescut CcutuIyi 6Iltr tuc sSttieneuto
had become more dense on the Mon
ongahela and on the Ohio. q new class
sprung up 10 the west whose lite was
unique. This was the class OF 6oatmsn
These were a hardy, fearless set Of men,
who always kept just in advance Of
civilization and luxury Many Of them
at first had been engaged in the border
wars with the Ildians were bred from
infancy amid dangers and experienced
in ell the practices and arts 10 the life
OF woodsman.
The bostmen were courageous. ath-
letic, persevering, and patient Of priva-
tone. They traverssd in their pir-
ogues, bsrges, or keels, the long rivers
penetrated the most remote wilderness
upon their watery routes, and kept up
a trade aud intercourse between the
most distant points. Accustomed to
every spicies Of exposure and privation.
they despissd ease and luxury. Cloth
ed in the costume Of the wilderness
aud armed in western style, they were,
always ready to exchange the labors Of
the oar for offensive or defensive war
Exposed to the double force OF the di-
rect sni reflected rays OF the Gun upon
the water, their complexion was
awartby, and often but little iairer than
the Indians. Often, from an exposure
of their bodies without shirts, their
com plexion, from The bead TO the waist
was the same.
Their tolls, dangers, and exposure
the moving accidents OF their long and
perllous voyages, were measurably hid
den from the inhabitants VINO contem-
plated the boats floating by their dwell
iings on beautiful spring mornings,
when the Yerdant forest, the mild and
delicious temperature OF the air, the
delightful azure of the sky, the fine
bottom on the one hand, and the roll
ling bluff on the other, the broad and
smooth stream rolling calmly down the
forest, and floating the boat gently
forward, present delightful iaages 10
the beholders, At such times their was
no visible danger, or call for labor. The
boat took care of itself; and little
would the heholders imagine, how di:-
ferent a scene might have been presen-
ted in hall an hour. Meantime one OF
the hands scraped violin, and others
danced. Grcc;iugs or rude definauces,
or trisls Of art, or prohers OF love to the
girls on shore, or ssucY messages were
scattered between them and the specta-
tors along the banks. The boat gIided
on until it disappeared behind a point
OF wood. At this moment, the bugle,
with which all boats were provided,
struck up its notes in the distance, over
the water. Those scenes aud those notes,
echoipg from the bluffs Of the beautiful
Ohio, had a charm tor the Imagination,
whicn, although heard a thousand
timee, at ail hours, and in all positions,
presented to even the most uuromantic
spectator the image OF a tempting and
charming youthful existence, that al
most inspired in his breast the wish,
that he too were boalman,
No wonder that the young, who were
reared 10 the remote regions oil the
west, Oh the banks OF the great stream,
with that restless curiosity which is fos-
tered by solitude and silence, looked
upon the severe and unremit,ing labor
OF agriculture as irksome and taste less
com pared to such life, AID that they
embraced every opportunity, either
openly or coyertly, to devote themse! Ives
to an employment which seemed 80
tull OF romance to their youthful VS.
ions.
Steam had not exerted its magic IN
Auence on tie western waters, and Inc
carcoes which ascended the Mississippi
n keel-boa,s were propelled By human
labor for nearly two Thousand miles,
slowly advancing against the strong
current Of taese rivers. The boatmeur
with their bodies naked to the waist
spent the long and tedious days travtr-
sing the running board" and pushing
with their whole force against theif
strong setting poles firmly fixed agains'
the shoulder. Thue, with their heals
suspended nearly to the track on tne
,unning-b board, they propelled their
ireish,ed barge up the long and tsdl,
nns 1ontc of the river. Alter hard
DAYS toll, at uightthey took their iii,
lee" or ration Of whisky. Swallowed
their homely supper OF meat hall ourn-
ed and bread halt baked, and retiring
to sleep they stretched themselves up
on the deck, without covering, under
the canopy OF heaven, or probably en-
veloped in blanket, until the steers
mans horn called them to their morn
ing "fllee" and their toll.
Hard and lstigulng was tue lie OF .
bostman;yet it was rare that any OF
them ever changed bis vocation; There
was charm In the excuses, IN the iro'-
ics, aud in the hghtipgs which tsey
anticipated OF the end Of the voyage
which cheered them on. Ofw WEAKNESS
none would complain but risllg rom
his hard bed by the frst dawn OF DAY
and terminated BY his morning drsusn1t
he was prepared TO hear and obey the
yoated order, Stand to your poles ano
set cFr The boatneu were masters
o. the winding horn aud the fiddle. ano
ss the boat moved off from her moor
ings, some, to cheer their labors or &c
".esrs of the devil and secure GOOD
,ucl;" would wind the snimatlng Blast
! of the horn, which, minghDg Wito 'n'
sweet music oft fiddle, ana ieNet'
berstipg along the sounding shores
greeted the solitary dvelleIs Oh w
banks with news from New ofieaos'
Their athletic lsbors gave strene'u
increditsble 10 their muscles, wnict
they were vain TO exhibit, ana hs'