Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-27
Mississippi River Incident of the
Old Days.

A Mississippi River Incident of the
Old Days.
The inexperienced traveller in quiet
home, who has never been tempted to
wander from Its peaceful precincts, has
but faint idea of the emigrant's troub-
les; and many may fail to deeply symp-
athize with Michael O,Reily, the subject
of our sketch; but there are those who
mingled in the perilous tide, and can
knowingly speak Of the dangers.
MAYBE" Michael would say, 'it's
mesllf that has had full peck measure
of thin, barrin' what mjaneously is
caped.'
Michaels brother, Patrick, had in
duced him to quit the little cottage and
pratie patch on the green sod for home
where "goold" flowed up the rivers. At
the time we encountered him he had
reached the spot where "a great man en-
tirely" had prophesied this shiney metal
would flow to; and he but waited to
reach Patrick's home on the Missouri
River to set a net in the stream and catch
his share. AS he and Mrs. OR. (who was
we'll, but, naturally enough. "wakely')
we're seated on the boat, considering how
they could get farther up the stream, a
steamboat-runner came to their aid, and
forthwith made every necessary arrange
ment for taking them safe. Michael's
mind being at ease about that matter, he
ventured to indulge in a Whit of the
pipe, when he was accosted by another of
the off.in twenty minutes agents.
"Passage up the Missouri, sir?" inquiries
the runner.
"Yis, I'm goin' wid yes" says
Michael. "Sure wan Nv your boys en-
g0Qed me a minnit ago.
The runner, perceiving in moment
that rival had encountered Michael, re-
solved to do the aforesaid rival out of his
| passenger, ana accordingly hurried him
off to his own boat, by telling him that
steam ao0s up!
The "done" runner, on running and
finding his passenger off, suspected that
the rival boat had secured him, and ven
tured upon the ''terror experiment" to
bring him back.
Michael instantly recognized his first
friend, and saluted him with:
"I'm here, ye see!"
"Yes, but you've got yourself into
kingdomcome snarl, if you only know'd
it, without tryin'.'
Twist the snarz which way Michael
would it sounded unpleasantly, and he
ventured to inquire:
"It's what did 70 say kind of smart I
was in2''
II only just want to open your peppers
to the fact of~having been trapped on
board an old boat, fully ins17led, with a
desperate shakey 'scapepipe, and en-
gagged to blow'd up this trip; so good-by,
old fellow you're tickete1."
"Och! if she's fully insured, all'sright,"
says Michael, whispering safety to his
heart; 'and the boy that I came wild
says she can run up a tree if there's a
dhrap of wather on it,,
III she don't run up a tree" was the
reply, "she'll be sure to run agia shaggy
one; and then, predicate, some of her
passengers'n be blow'd tree high; so you
are in for it, old. hoss., Good-by! l say,
if you should see nv old uncle doom thar
(pointing at the same time significantly
t. the rushing river)-the one, Imean,
who didn't leave me Any money, tell him
for me, as he's gone to the d., to
shake himself-Hill -you2" -. And after
delivering himself of the soothing request,
he vanished, leaving Michael fancyipg
himself astride of 'scape-pipe, riding
over tree-tops, rocket fashion.
"Och! sorra the day 1 liver put for
among SIGH haythins!" soliloquized
Michael. ITO talk of mans beiu'
blown to smithereens. as if it were but a
gintle rap wild a shillelahl Faith, it's
out Nv this I'll be immigratin' quicker
than you could peel q pratie.'. And
forthwith he proceeded to move, with all
possible haste, his stock af worldly eff
fects observing which, 1.-The runner, who
had awoke his fears, shouted out as quich;-
ener, "Don't forget uncle; for he would
think it dreadful mean, if I didn't send
word by somebody I knew was gosn' d.
rect"
"Leave that luggage alcnep savagely
shouted the mate. "You can't leave the
boat-you're engaged"
"Thrue for ye's,'' says Michael, in a
doleful tone. ''Be dad, I was omadhaum
enough to do that same; and yes can
blow me up wheniver y o,1're a mind to-
1--WE won't blow her up" says the
mate, 'until the downward trip, unless
some gentleman's requested it in his bar
gain. If you've got flying ticket, We
are bound to accommodate you"
And just at that moment whiz went q
steamcock. L. ..,
'Be aisy, for the Lords sake2" shouted
Michael. "Blow her up for the gintle.
man comm down. As I'm not used to it
might fall awkwardly into some mans
apple orchard and desthroy a peach tree
Dye mind9'' .-. :: 49,. 49,. ~.
Having been assured that all was safe
aud that. by express desire, the blowing
up was deferred, he took his seat at thu
stern. As the shades Of evening gather
ed around the boat and over the waters
the steamer pushed from her moerings
When we lastsaw Michael he was hold
| ing in one hand u small string Of beads
with rosary attached, while the othe
grasped the "painter" Of the iolly-boa
towing astern; and his eye, with doubt
full expression, was firmly fixed ON thu
shaky 'scape-pipe. T.. Is
L Gen ius and Strong Drink Divorced
From the 0hicaxo Advance. .t........... IL. :.
.