New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-05
Tho had brought glass to bear upon the

giraffe
The occupants of the irst boat were evil
IDENTITY of the captains own mind. Tor they
were eagerly peering over her side and
into the water.
Suddenly the pilot dropped his glass, ex-
temparized a trumpet with both hands, aud
shouted:
"Forrard -forrard Ore Of ems up.'
Then he Dut his mouth to the speaking tube
and screamed to the engineer: Let her
drop down little, Billy
The sounding party headed toward a
black speck, apparently q hundred yards
below them, and the great steamer slowly
drifted down stream. the speck moved to.
ward shore, and the boat rapidly shorten
ing distance. seemed to scrape the banks
with her port oars.
Safe euough now, guess!' exclaimed
Judge Turner. of one of the Southern Hi
nois circuits. The Judge had been inter
rupted in telling story when the accident
occurred, and was in a hurry TO resume.
As / was saving" said he. che hardly
looked like professional horse thief. He
was little and quiet, and had always worked
away steadily at his trade. believed him
when he said twas his frs. offense. and
that he did it to raise money to bury his
child; and | was going 10 give him an easy
sentence, and ask the Governor 10 pardon
him. The laws have to he executed, You
know, but there's no law against mercy be-
ing practiced afterward. Well, the sheriff
was bringing him from jail to hear the YER
Dict and the sentence, when short man,
with red hair, knocked the sheriff down,
and off gslioped that precious couple to the
Wabash. | saw the entire --'
THE deuce' interrupted the pilot, again
dropping his glass.
The Judge giared angrily: the paseen gers
saw. across the shortened distance. one Of
the Chums holding by root to the hank,
and trying TO support the other, whose
shirt hung in rags, and who seemed ex-
hausted.
Which ones hur?' asked the captain.
Give me the glass
But the pilot had left the louise and taken
the glass with him.
The Judge continued:
~ saw the whole transaction through the
window. was so close that saw the sher-
ifs assailants very eyes I'd know that
fellows face if / saw it in Africa
why, they're both hurt exclaimed the
and they're crowding around the other.
What the -. They're comm back with
out 'em-need whisky to bring EN- to, sup
Pose. Why didn't | send whisky down by
the other boat There's an awful amount
OF time being was ed here. What's the mat
ter Mr.. BelI'' shouted the captain, as tae
boat approached the steamer
'DOtD uedU. TPpileu tlb uUlctr
Both! Now. ladies and gentlemen. ex-
claimed the captain. turning toward the
passengers. wLo were crowding forward
Just below him. Il want 10 know it that
isn't streak of the meanest kind OF luck!
Both the Chums gone! Why. | wol't be
able to Eo,d up my head 10 New Orleans.
How came it that just those two fellows
were kno :ked out!'
Red tpmbled out and Black Jumped GA
after him" replied the officer. Red must
have been caught in an eddy and tangled in
the cd trees ro0ts-clotdes torn aluo-t
oif-head cayed in. Black must have burst
blood vessel-bis face locked Ike copper
pan when he reached shore. and he just
groaued and dropped"
The captain was sorrv-sO sorry that he
sent waiter for brandy. But the captain
was human. business was business the rain
was falling, and a big log Was across the
boat bow. 50 he shouted:
Hurry up and bury EN-. then. Iou
ought to have have let the second boats cAw
gone on with that, and you have gone back
to your soundings. That was the Chums to
be sure, but now thes re only dead rous;a-
bouts. Below there Pass out Il couple Of
shovesn'
perhaps some ladies would 60 down
with the boat, captain-aud preacher, too,
it there's enc aboard remarked the mate,
with an earnest but very mysterious tx
pres sion.
"Why, what in thunder does the fellow
meant sol;loquized the captain, audibly.
"Women--and a preaclier-for dead roust-
abonta! What do you mean, Mr.. Bell"
Reds woman briefly responded the
mate.
The passen gers all startet-:le capt ain
brought his hands together with a trench
dous clap, and exclaimed:
Murder will out, But who'd have
thought was to be the man to find out the
secret OF the Carmi Chums. Guess III be
the biggest man on the New Orleans levee,
after all. Yes, certainly-of course some
ladies ii go-and preacher, too, # there's
such a man aboard. Hold up, though
we,ll all go. Take your soundiugs, quick,
and We'll drop the steamer just below the
point and tie up. l wonder If there is q
preacher aboardl'
No one responded for moment; then the
Judge spoke
Before | went into the law was the
regularly settled pastor of a Presbyterian
church." said he "J'm decidedly rusty
now, but a little time will enable me to
prepare myself properly. Excuse me ladies
snd gentlemen
The sounding boat pulled away, and the
judge retired to his stste-roOm. The ladies.
with very pale faces, gathered in q group
and whispered earnestly with each other;
then ensued visits to each others state
rooms, and the final regathering of the
ladies with two or three bundles. The
soundings were taken, and, as the steamer
dropped down stream men were seen cut
ting path down the rather steep clay
bank. The captain put his hands to his
mouth and shouted:
Dig only one grave--make it wide
enough for two"
And all the passengers nodded assent and
satisfaction.
Time had been short since the news
reached the steamer, but the Benefits car
penter, who was himself married man.
had made plain coffin by the time the boat
tied up, and another by the time the grave
was dug. The first was put upon long
handbarrow, over which the captain had
lowed by the ladies, was deposited beside
the body of Red. Half an hour later the
men placed Black in the other coffin. re-
moved both to the side of the grave, and
signaled the boat.
Now, ladies and gentlemen said the
captain.
The Judge appeared, with a very solemn
face, his coat buttoned tight to his throat
aud the party started. Colonel May, of
Missouri, who read Voltaire and didn't be-
lieve in anything, maliciously took the
judges arm, and remarked:
You didn't finish your story, Judge"
The Judge frowned reprovingly.
but really" persisted the colonel, ~
don't want curiosity to divert my mind
from the solemn services about to take
place; Do tell me if they ever caught the
rascals."
"They never did," replied the Judge.
"The sheriff hunted and advertised, but he
could never hear word Of either of them.