The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-10-07

At length they became known, in
their collective capacity, as one OF the
institutions of the river. Captains knew
them as well as they knew Natchez or
Piankishaw Bend, and showed them to
distinguished passengers as regularly as
they showed Gen. Zach. Taylor's plan
tation, or the scene of the Grand Gulf
"cave," were square mile of Louisi-
ana dropped into the river one night.
Captains rather cultivated them, in fact,
although it was difficult bit of busi-
ness, for roustabouts who wouldn't say
ssthank your for glass of French
brandy, or a genuine, old-fashioned
"plantation cigar,'' seemed destitute
of ordinary handles of which a steam
boat captain could take hold. Lady
passengers took considerable notice of
them, and were more successful than
any one else at drawing them into con-
versation. The linguistic accomplish
ments of the Chums were not numer-
Gus, but it did one good to see Black
lose his scared, frlrtive look when a la
dy addressed him, and to see the affec-
tionate Difference with which he appeal
ed to Red, until that worthy was drawn
into the conversation. When Black
succeeded in this latter-named opera
ton, he would, by insensible stages,
draw himself away and give himself up
to enthusiastic admiration of his part
ner, or, apparently, of his converse
sational ability.
The spring of 1869 found the Chums
| in the crew of the Bennett, 'sthe peer
less floating palace of the Mississippi, -
as she was called by those newspapers
whose reporters had the freedom of the
Bennett bar; and the same season saw
the Bennett staggering down the Mis-
sissippi with so heavy a. load OF sacked
corn, that the gunwales amidship We're
fairly under water. The river was
very low, so the Bennett kept carefully
in the channel, but the channel OF the
great muddy ditch which drains half the
Union is as tickle as disappointed low
ers declare women to be, and it has no
more respect for great steamer-loads OF
corn than Goliath had for David. A
little Ohio River boat, bound upwards.
had reported the sudden disappearance
of woodward little way above Milli-
ken's Bend, where the channel hugged
the shore, and with the woodward
there had disappeared an enormous
sycamore tree, which had for years
served as tying-post for steamers. As
live sycamores are about as disinclined
to float as bars of lead are, the Captain
and pilot of the Bennett were somewhat
concerned-for the sake of the corn
to know the exact location of the tree
Half mile from the spot it became
evident even to the passengers clustered
forward on the cabin-deck, that the
i sycamore had remained quite near its
old home, for long rough ripple was
seen directly across the line OF the chan
mel. Then arose the question as to how
much water was on top of the tree, ane
whether any bar had had time to accu
mulate. The steamer was stopped
the engines were reversed and worket
by hand to keep the Bennett from drift
ing down stream, a boat was lowered
| and manned, the Chums forming par
of her crew, and the Second Office
, went down to take soundings, while th'
!, passengers, to whom even so small
|. cause for excitement was a gOd-send
) crowded the rail and stared.
The boat shot rapidly down th'
stream, headed for the shore end of tn
ripple. She seemed almost into tn
boiling mud in front Of her when tn
) passengers on the steamer heard tn
t Mate in the boat shout:
: "sBack, ALL"
& The motion of the oars changed in al
: instant, but little too late, for,
+ heavy root of the fallen giant, just GOV
. cred by the water, caught the littl
craft and caused it to careen so vic
lently that one. man was thrown int
: the water. As she righted, anothe
man went in.
II ssConfound it," growled the Captain
: Iwho was leaning out Of the pilot-hous
!; window. 81 hope they can swim
t Still, 'tain,t as bad as it would be it W
| had any more cargo to take aboard =
$ sits the Chums, = remarked tn
$ lpilot, who had brought glass to bea
-upon the boat. s.. go. S.,
5 ssThunder!'' exclaimed the Captain
a striking bell, s'Below there! Lowe
S away another boat---lively!" Then
: turning to the passengers. he explained
Nobody on the river d forgive me if
8 Host the Chums 'rwouldbe as bad q
4 Barnum losing his giraffe. -
e The occupants of the first boat wei
t evidently of the Captains own mind
a for they were eagerly peering over he
5 side, and into the water.
a Suddenly the pilot dropped his glass
: extelnporized a trumpet with bot
c hands, and shouted:
e ssForrard---forrard! One of 'em
n up!'' Then he put his mouth to tf
e speaking-tube, and screamed to the el
p gineer: LET her drop down a little