Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-08-06
CRUISE OF THE sLow-Go.
Thrilling Experience OF n Napoleon
Party on the Raging Canal.


[Correspondence Toledo Bee.l
NAPOLEON, o., July 29.-"Three dol
lars' worth of fun for fifty cents"
This was the inducement held out by
Charley Reynolds to the privileged few
who were invited TO from party to go
to Florida, up the raging canal, TO eat
ice cream and, at the same time help
an old soldier who had broken a leg.
The good craft Slow-go was chartered
for the occasion. and o'clock found
steam up and the two-horse power
engine just painting to be turned loose
by that prince of engineers, Charley
Day. The only "Davep Hancock, who
occupied the sweat-box on top of the
boiler, in the double capacity (which
he alone is equal toy of Captain and
wheelsman, ordered in the gang-plank
and sang out: "Let loose yer line aft
thar"
The sugar-cane deck was held down
by the following ladies and gentlemen:
HI. NJ. Wisler, Mr.. and Mrs. HI. E. Cary,
Rev and Mrs. Donahay, Mr.. and Mrs.
], B. Hague, Mr.. and Mrs. d. w.
Frease, Esquire, Mr.. and Mrs. j. J.
Malley, Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. E. Reyn-
olds, Mr.. and Mrs. Couch, Mrs. Tyler,
of Ft. Wayne, Mrs. J. N. High, Mrs.
Dave Rummel, Mrs. Hattie Frease and
Edwin G. Dodd, z. G. In the lower
cabin were several of the male persua-
sion, including the old vetern, Mike
Neff.
The trip up the State highway was
one of unalloyed pleasure; the ladies of
artistic turn of mind were busy calling
the attention of their male escorts to
the beautiful shadows, the blending of
the green corn and the golden wheat,
in the grand panorama of nature, the
whole Illuminated by full moon hung
out for the occasion. The Historian
Dodd, gave biographical sketches of all
the residents of the old Maumee, from
the days when old Turkeyfoot and
Simon Girty gave way to Ed, and his
ancestors. At $3.50 we were welcomed
at the dock at Florida by delegation
which was not composed of the Mayor
and municipal officers. We soon found
our way to the hall, and for about an
hour did work that did credit to our
appetites, if nothing more.
"All aboard" "and away we go, bound
for home, speculating and betting on
the time the Slow Go will make on the
down trip. But, what means this stop
page of the motive power? Everybody
piles into the engine room and find that
'she is busteP'-eight miles from home
on the stormy sea! Land was discovered
off the lee bow by First Mate Reynolds
who was on watch at the time and used
the boats glass. ut had formerly done
service on the barr He asked Pilot
Cary for bearing; that officer looked in
the skillet and reported that we were
there. All agreed that the Pilot was
correct, and Second Mate Couch sug'
gested that the same answer would bt
correct in the morning unless some
thing was done. Some of the ladies
proposed prayer; Webb. Frease said III
could pray, but he'd pass around tn,
hat as that part of the service he remem
bered best.
! The Captain appointed Malley drivel
and ordered him to get out team anC
tow the boat "down hum" Fred. Bul
lard was rushed out of the hole anC
hitched in the traces as head mule
John Ritter fell in the traces, and Char
ley Reynolds acted as saddle-mule, but
when the driver undertook to straddle
him, there was a stampede of the team
and the driver was compelled to work
his passage home q foot. The team
made very good time for the first relay
1.-TWO miles,) and the driver called for the
gang plank and put the prize mule
editor Wisler, in the traces as lead
Joel Couch and Ed. Dodd were put in.
to the collars and Rev. Donahay took
the saddle, but bucked, as his predeces
sor did, and the driver contented him
self with calling the animal pet names
This team took advantage of the first
opportunity to buck and went down the
bank into the canal; they were pulled
out and, being of u refractory disposition
and the agent of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals being
present, threatening prosecution, the
driver put them aboard and hitched uE
the prize team, Frease and Hague
Frease is large, bald-faced, pussy, corn.
fed mule, and little wind-brolxen
while Hague is an old-timer, with al
eight-mile record, without ringbont
or SPAWN. They were doing well, but
Frease began to bray and horse in {
barn answered him; the driver, to save
the team, induced the owner of the an
imal, Mr.. Shelf, to hitch on and tow III
home. A silver dollar caught him, ant
our nags were landed. Captain Cary
put soap and sugar on their shoulders
and rubbed them down.
1 Nothing more of note occurred; there
was desire strongly expressed to "keeI
1t still, {" and all oath was registered tha
the next time we ride to Florida, W.
walk, and will not pull the Slow-go. (.
YORICK.