The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-15
MIKE FINK.
HTTHE Last of the Boatman" has not

HFTNHE Last of the Boatman" has not
become altogether mythic per-
sonage. There are around us those who
still remember him as one of flesh and
blood, as we'll as proportions simply
human, albeit he lacked somewhat of
the heroic in stature, as well as being
"perfect terror" to people
AS regards Mike,i has not yet become
that favorite question of doubt" Did
such thing really livep" For have we
heard the skeptic inquiry" Did such
thing really diep" But his death in
half dozen different ways and places
has been asserted, and this, we take it,
is the first gathering of the mythic have
that shadowy and indistinct enlarge
ment of outline, which, deepening
through long ages, invests distinguished
mortality with the sublimer attributes
of the hero and demi-god. Had Mike
lived in "early Greece" his fiat boat
feats would, doubtless, in poetry, have
rivalled those of Jason, in his ship;
while in Scandinavian legends, he would
have been a river god, to a certainty
The Sea. Kings would have sacrificed to
him every time they C crossed the bar"
or advised, as far as any interference
went, to "lay low and keep dark, or,
2re-haps," &c.
The story of Mike Fink, including a
death, has been beautifully told by the
late Morgan Neville, of Cincinnati,
gentleman Of the highest literary taste,
as we'll as of the most amiable and pol
ished manners. 1.-THE Last of the Boat
men" as his sketch is entitled, is unex-
ceptionable in style, and, we believe, in
fact, with one exception, and that is,
the statement as to the manper and
place of Fink's death. Heidi not die in
Arkansas, but at Fort Henry, near the
mouth of the Yellow Stone.
In the year 1922, steamboats, having
left the "keels" and "broad-horns"
entirely out of sight," and Mike hav-
ing, in consequence, fallen from high
estate--that of being "a little bit the
almightiest man on the river, any how"
after term of idleness, frolic and
desperate rowdyism, along the different
towns, he, at ST. Louis, entered the SER
vice of the Mountain Fur Company, as
trapper and hunter: and In that
capacity was employed by Major Henry,
in command of the Fort at the mouth of
the Yellow Stone river, when the occur
renee took place of which we write.
Mike, with many generous qualities,
was Away a reckless ire devil; but, at
this time, advancing a years and de-
cayed in influence, above all become
victim of whisky, he was morose and
desperate in the extreme. There was
government regulation which forbade
the free use Of alcohol at the trading
posts on the Missouri river, and this
was continual source of quarrel be-
tween the men and the commandant,
Major Henry-on the part of Fink par
ticularly. One of his freaks was to
march with his rifle into the fort, and
demand C supply of spirits. Argument
was fruitless, force not to be thought of,
and when, on being positively denied,
draw up his rifle and sent ball through
the cask, deliberately walked up and
filled his can, while his particular
"boys" followed his example, all that
could be done was to look upon the
matter as one of his ''queer ways" and
that was the end of it.
The state of things continued for some
time; Mixes temper and exactions
growing more nnbearable every day,
until, finally, "split'' took place, not
only between himself and the command
ant, but many others In the fort, and
the unruly boatman swore he would not
live among them. Followed only by a