The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-05-21
Gtt GAIN. Argus.
ROCK ISLAND, .rrLrro1s
Concluded from second page. !

lated their chances On intimidation the
Jews beat an inglorious retreat through
the back door, Doak had great trouble
10 getting Brooks away. as he was deter
mined to use his dagger on some of the
Isrealites. He secured valuable fur cap
which did not cost him anything, but Doak
did not get coat.
Coming up the river with them, and
having deck passage, was young man,
quite sick, and without any bed clothing.
Our New Boston party divided their
clothing with him, and took him in charge,
caring for him carefully. One afternoon
Doak put the sick man into one OF the
swinging hunks belonging to their party,
When about retiring to bed for the night,
he noticed the sick man lying on the floor,
and in the place he had assigned bin, a
strapping big surely Frenchman, who had
acted unbearingly all the way on the trip.
Doak slipped into another bunk close by
and reaching over with his knife he cut
the ropes at the head of the bunk, letting
the Freedman fall OF his head on the
deck floor. The Frenchman raved, and
wanted to whip some one. Brooks had
been drinking enough to be in bis fighting
element, but was in another part of the
b atwhen ii is occurred. The Fr4nchman
had fixed his bunk and got back in il.
when Brooks coming on the scene, noticed
the sick man lying on the floor and the
burly Frenchman in his place. He en-
quired of the sick man why this was
thus and on learning, he caught the
Frenchman by the leg, trying to jerk him
out on the floor, but in doing SO Frenchy
kicked him on the nose, making it bleed
profusely. Brooks instantly drew from
his pocket small bottle of whiskey, and
throwing it with all his force, he hit the
Frenchman square In the face. cutting
him so that he looked as if he might
have been run through a threshing
machine There were five or six
other Frenehman on the boat, and they all
rushed to the assistance of their compan-
ion, but a dozen other Americans put to
the rescue of our New Boston party.
Doak quelled Brooks by taking hold of him
and holding him fast to prevent him from
killing the Frenchmau. which he seemed
determined to do The captain of the
boat rushed in TO see what was the matter,
and on Doak's making full explanation.
| the captain said he would put the French
man off at the next landing. Doak then
went and told the other FreDchman that in
| they didn't want to see their companion
killed, they had better keep him hid from
Brooks, as he would surely kill him if be
got chance. They hid the Frenchman
in coil of rope on the bow of the boat,
where he remained secreted until the boat
landed at New Boston the same night,
l forgot to mention that in going down
the river our boat stopped one night at an
| island, where were quite a number OF
| Freuchmen and Kentuckians, with their
families, They cut wood to sell to the
steamboats,, and to ship down the river
We traded some produce with them, anc
were invited to dance Quite a goodly
number were assembled where the dance
was held at a rude cabin Doak started
forward after one of the girls to help star
start the dance. but she broke and run al
about the room, and he after. lie caught
her after lively chase. The girl had 9
big roasted potato in her hand, which sh,
was nibbling at When ready to take IL,
floor for dance, she turned to a femal
companion. and said. SAIL hold my tate
| till trot reel" All the girls. of which
there was quite company, bad potatoe
in their hands. and whenever approached
' by gentleman they would break and ru
until caught, This was after the style Q
"oid Kaintuck"