The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-11-11
THE TRUTHFUL PILOT.
A Han Who Would Die Rather than Te
. Lie.

From the vicksburgh Herald.
The passenger who was going down
the big river for the hrst time in his
life. secured permission to climb up
beside the pilot grim old gray back
whs never told lie in his life.
"Aauy alliGators in this river?" in-
qnfred the stranger after look
around. &c
"Not 80 many now, since they got
to shoetin' 'em for their hides and tai
lG,.w4s the reply. 1d
"Used to be lots, eh ?"
II don't want to tell you about 'em,
stranger, replied the pilot sighing
heavily. .r,e~rx
S"Why 2" o ~ !
"'Cause you'd think was a-lying
to You, and that's sumthin' 1 never do.
1 kin cheat at. keerds, drink whisky,
or chaw psor terbacker, but I can't
lie." + .-'-e''i =
'Then there used to be lots Of 'en p,
inquired the passenger?
but I've counted 1even hundred ally
gators to the mile from Vicksburg
cl'ar down to Orleansl That was
years ago, afore shet was ever fired
at 'em."
well, don't doubt il, )" replied the
stranger
"And I've counted 3,459 Of 'em on
one sand bar !" continued the pilot.
att looks big to tell, but government
surveyor was aboard, and he checked
,em on as called out"
ri haven't the least doubt Of it."
said the passenger, as he heaved a
sigh.
aI'm glad o. that, stranger. Some
felIers would think 1 was > liar, when
Tn Alllng the solemn truth. This
used . be paradise for ailygatsrs,
and they were so:thick that the wheels
OF the boat killed an average Of forty
nine to the mile!" "a @mz
Hsthst sorrPsfI 4FekI7
Trde d gospel, mister! / used 10
almost feel sorry. for the cussed brutes,
cause they'd cry out e'enamost like a
human being We killed lets of 'em,
n I said, and we hurt pile mere. 1
sailed with one captain who allns car
ried Thousand bottles Of lininent to
throw over to tho wounded ones!7
"True's you live, he did. l don't
'spect I'll ever see another such kind
Christian man. And the allygaters
got to know the Nancy Jane, and to
know Captain Tom, and they'd swim
cut and rub their tails agin the beat
and purr like cats, an look up and try
to smilei I" --Lr-. ~ IL
'sThey would 2"
"Solemn truth, stranger. And once
when we grounded and . bar, with An
opposition boat behind, the sllygaters
gathered round, got under her stern,
and bumped her over the bar with a
grand pnshl 1t looks like mighty
big story, but never told q lie yet
and never shall. 1 wouldn't lie for all
the money you could put aboard this
beat,
There was painful pause, and after
q while the pilot csntinned:
"Our iBjfnes gin out once, and q
crowd of allygaters took . tsw-line
and hauled 10 43 miles up stream to
Vicksburg I"
They did?"
''And when the news got along the
river that Captain Tom was dead eve
ry alligator in the river. daubed his
left ear with black mud as badge OF
mournin,, and lots of en- pined away
and died ~ rs4TF fag m
The passenger lett the pilot house
with the remarx that he didn't doubt
the statement, but the old man gave
the wheel q turn and replied:
"Tbere's enc thing 1 won't do for
love or money, and that's make liar
of myself. was brung up by good
mother, and I'm going to stick to the
truth if this boat don't make a cent.