The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-06-05
ASTORY OF MIKE FINK.
The Flatboatman Of the Ohio Valley In
Early Times.

She Flatboatman OF the Ohio Valley I,
Early Times.
Washington Ky., letter in Phila- Times.
Clustered about Washington are as
sociations of the most interesting histor
ical character. Nearly every one of its
old houses was once the home of man
or woman with a national reputation,
and volume of "reminiscences might be
cleaned here. Its history belongs to
the past and there are but few living
reminders of that glorious period. In
>ona of the Oldest, quaintest and most
picturesque houses lives Uncle John
Zeigler. He is ninety years old and
every morning, rain or shine, he rises
with the lark, seizes his long hickory
staff and trudges sturdily down the
broad pike to Maysdale, returning be-
fore night falls. He is majestic physi-
cal wreck not yet gone to pieces-six feet
five inches in height and still erect.
Time has shrunken and weakened his
thews and sinews, but in the days that
speak of no arm was so strong, no eye
so keen, no courage so sublime as his.
Warmed by the generous fire of his ma
tive Bourbon he loves to talk about the
past and to newspaper man his stories
are always interesting. He was the
partner of Mike Fink, the "King of the
Flat boatmen."
II linked fortunes with Mike at his
own request" he said to me, "and
there's an interesting little story con-
nected with tile partnership"
He dropped his head forward, refec-
lively, and without disturbing his rev.
erie pushed the bottle and a glass to-
ward him. Mechanically he filled the
latter and for moment held it to the |
light, admiring the warm, rich color of |
the liquor. Then he tossed the contents
off at gulp.
'It is good liquor" he said, smack
ing his lips, "and the taste carries me
back to the old days when ran fiat
boat on the Ohio. [ was q good man
then, very good man, and had no fear.
used to winter at Maysville and one
season I don't remember the date-I
IAN my boat into Limestone creek and
made all snug for cold weather. The
ce come early and a great many fiat
ooatmen made their quarters here.
Nike Fink's boat lay just below mine.
had heard of him, but we had never I
net We fiat boatmen worked hard
nd made money during the summer. and ,
re spent it right royalty when we laid
IF for the winter We had frolics everv
ay and dances every night. This sea-
on's fun had hardly begun when it come c
D my ears that Mike Fink had boosted q
that on his boat was the :,
est rifle shot, the best fst-fght- +
r, the best runner and the "
est wrestler in the Ohio valley. .
wasn't long before chance was CIV . .
4 me to partially test the truth of his e e
lallenge. met his runner, bis wrest- I
T and his fighter all in one day and r
lowned' the three. This made Mike =,
retty mad and he arranged 1t for us to u u
y our skill with the rifle. About q =
eek afterward we met at a barn raising - -
1t at Kenton's Station, and after the y.
ork was finished we settled down to =. -
lid sport. Finally Mike challenged -.
9 to shoot with him. I accepted and ~
gathered around to watch e
. You see, Mike didn't belong in :.
aysville, and great deal depended a.,
| the result. If he won it would dimin- ", "
I Mayville's glory, and if I was sue t .e
ssful (having already defeated the W W
ampion fighter, wrestler and runner) sc
9 could lay claim to the proud distinc- 81 81
IN of owning as her son the all-round n a.
ampion! III
Mike had been drinking, but knew VI
lat was coming and hadn't touched a Gu
op. When stepped to the mark Gu
was my first shot was as cool as pa
and my muscles were under perfect s11
1trol. made two bull's-eyes out of a q
ssible three. When Mike stepped up &c, Iei
i raised his rifle he tossed his head ~! nis
'rnfully, but the liquor had affected ~ IA
nerves and his first shot was a bad W.
,. He loaded his rifle nervously and pa
sing it took long, steady aim. When we
pulled the trigger great shout went Zee
and everybody crowded around me- S SlN
had missed the bulls-eye and 1 was y
champion. I was right proud of my SUI
ievement and LIBERATED the victory .el
more liquor than was good :; sA :
me. Mike felt his defeat keenly and ~ n.a
ompanied by his friends left for oe !
n. When returned was told that 81 q =
was still unwilling to acknowledge a. :. =
l was the champion. He admitted a
l had distanced his feetest runner,
OWN his most expert wrestler, whip ea.,
his ablest fighter and fairly defeated 30 70.
as marksman. lia
He can beat me shooting he said, g.
l can whip him with my fists H. ~,
When l heard this you may depend snG
n it l was pretty mad. I would I; ,,
3 hunted him up and settled the 10y
ter that very night, but my friends, 'Ne
wing my condition, prevailed upon
o go home. The next morning was Av
: cold. 1 came into town at about ~.
clock and went to a boatman's ~ -
ply store, kept by a Jew where I felt u
ty certain I'd find him Mike. sure idea
Ugh, he was there, with three of his far
ss-the three I had already defeated. TIN,
q wara seatad around q eyreot bioy