The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-13

l. Their arrival in port was general
jubilee, where hundreds often met tos
gether for diversion and frolic. Their
assemblsges' were often riotous and
lauless to extremes. when the civil au-
thorities were defied for several days
together. Had their numbers incrcas-
edwith the population Of the west, they
would have Endangered the peace of
the country; but the first steamboat
that ascepded the Ohio sounded their
death.kuell, and they have been buried
in the tide, never more to rise. -e
Mike Fink, usually called "the last
of the boatmen." was a fair specimen
of his race, Many curious anecdotes
are related OF him. He was born in
Pittsburgh. In early youth, his desire
to become boatmau was ruling pas
sion, which soon had its qualification.
He served on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers as a boatman, until thrown out
of employment by the general use Of
steamboats,. When the Ohio was too
low for navigation, he spent mos! of his
time at shooting matches in the
neigh borhood OF Pittsburgh, and soon
became famous as the best shot in the
country. On that account, be was CALL
ed "bang ALL" and hence, frequently
excluded from participating in matches
Tor beef; for which exclusion he claim.
ed and obtained for his forbearance, the
6th quarter OF beef, as the hide and
tallow are called. Hls usual practice
was to cell his fifth quarter to the tsv-
ern keeper for whisky, with which he
treated everybody present, Epartakiug
largely himself. He became fond OF
strong drink, and could partake of a
gallon in twenty-four hours without the
effect being percelvabls.
Mikes weight was about one hum
bred and eighty pounds; height about
five feet nine inches; counteuance open;
skin tanned by sau and rain; form
broad and very muscular, and of Her
culean strength and great activity
His language was OF the hali-horse and
half-aIligator dialect OF the then race
OF boatmen. He was also wit, and on
that be gained the admiration and ex-
cited the fears oil all the fraternity; for
he usually enforced his wit with sound
drubbing, il any one dared to dissent by
neglecting or refusing to laugh at his
jokes; for, as he used to say, he crack
ed HIS jokes on purpose to be laughed
at in good humored way aud that no
man should make light OF them. As
consequence, Mike had always aronnd
him chosen band of laughing philos-
ophers. An eye banged up or e. di-
lapidated nose or esr, was sure to win
Mikes sympathy and favor, for be
made proclamation; II m a Salt R:v-
er Roarer I'm chuck full of fight,
and love the wimmio," &c ; and he
did Tor be had y sweetheart in every
port. Among his chosen worshippers
who would fight their death for him, as
they termed it, were Carpenter and
Talbot. Each was q match for the
other in proves, in fight or skill in
shooting. having each been under
Mikes diligent training.
Mike. at one time, had q woman who
passed for his wife; whether she was
truly 80, we DO not know. But at any
rate, the following anecdote is rare iu-
stance OF cenjuga! discipline.
Some time IN the latter part OF au-
tump, q few years after the close OF the
late war with Great Britain, several keel
boats landed for the night near the
mouth ofthe Muskirgum, among which
was that o: Mikes After making all
fast, Mike was observed just under the
bank, scraping into = heap the dried
beach leaves which had been blown
there during the day, having juat fallen
from the effects OF the early autumn
trosts. To ali questions as to what he
wac doing he returned no answer, but
continued ct his work until he had
piled them up IS high as his head. He
then separated them, making sort OF
an oblong ring, in which he laid down
az il TO ascertain whether it was q good
bed or not. Getting up he saun!ered on
board, hunted up his rife, made great
preparations about his priming, and
then called in very mpressiye manu er
| upon his wife to follow him Both pro-
ceeded up 10 the pile O! leaves, poor Pc"
10 terrible flutter, as she had discov1
cred that Mike was in no very amiable
humor.
Get 10 there aud lie down" WIS the
| com aud TO Peg, topped off with ore
OF Mikes very choice oaths. "Now,
MIR. Fink."-she always Mustered bun
when his blood wac up--"what have 1
done, don't know, I'm sure
Get in there and lie down or Iii
shoot you" with another oath, and
drawing his rifle up to his shoulder
Poor Peg obeyed, and crswled into the
leaf pile, and Mike covered her up
with the combustibIes. He then took
a -four barrel and split the slaves into
foe piecea, and lighted them at the fire
on board the boat, all the time watch :
log the leaf pile, aud swearing he would
shoot PEG il she moved. So soon IS
the spl,uters began 10 blaze, he took
them into his hand aud deliberately get
FIRE, in tour different; places, TO the
LEAVES tha. surrounded his wife. In
an instant, the whole mass wss on fire,
aided by a fresh wind, which wac blow
ing at the time, while Mike was quiet
| " standing by enjoying the fun. Peg,
| through tear OF Mike, stood it as long
as she could; but it soon became too
bot, and che made run for the river,
he hair and clothing all on fire. In a
few seconds she reached the water end
plunged iD. rejoicing to know she had
escaped both FIRE and rifle go well
There" said Mike, "thstll lsrn you
not 20 be wipkiu' ST. them teIIers on
t'o,her bost."
Nike fys, visited St. Louis as keel
boatmau. in 1914 or Is. Among ms
shooting iea.s, the following are related
by eye witnesses, Ia ascending Inc
Mississippi above toe Ohio, be saw a
COW with a couple OF pigs, about one