McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-05-28
ASTORY OF MIKE FINK.
The Flatboatman of the Ohio Valley In
Early 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 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
ons 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."
"I linked fortunes with Mike at his
own request" he said to me, "and
there's an interesting little story con-
nected with the partnership"
He dropped his head forward, refec-
lively, and without disturbing his rev.
erie I pushed the bottle and glass TO-
ward him. Mechanically he filed 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 1 ran flat
boat on the Ohio. I was good man
then, very good man, and had no fear.
I used to winter at Maysville and one
season. don't remember the date-I
ran my boat INTO Limestone creek and
made all snug for cold weather. The
ice come early and a great many flat
boatmen made their quarters here.
Mike Finkis boat lay just below mine.
[ had heard of him, but we had never
met. We fat-boatmen worked hard
and made money during the summer, and
we spent it right royalty when we laid
off for the winter. We had frolics every
day and dances every night. This sea-
sons fun had hardly begun when it come
to my ears that Mike Fink had boosted
everywhere that on his boat was the
best rifle shot, the best fst-fght-
er, the best runner and the
best wrestler in the Ohio valley
It wasn't long before chance was CIV
en- me to partially test the truth of his
challenge. l met his runner. his wrest-
Ter and his fighter ali in one day and L
'downed' the three This made Mike
pretty mad and he arranged 1t for US to
try our skill with the rifle. About a
week afterward we met at barn raising
out at Kenton's Station, and after the
work was finished we settled down TO
solid sport. Finally Mike challenged |
me to shoot with him. [ accepted and |
everybody gathered around to watch |
us. You see. Mike didn't belong in
Maysville, and Il great deal depended |
on the result. Ii he won it would dimin- |
ish Mayville's glory, and if was sue
cessful (having already defeated the |
champion fighter, wrestler and runner) |
she could lay claim to the proud distinc
ton of owning as her son the all-round |
champion!
- mike had been drinking, but knew
what was coming and hadn't touched a
drop. When [ stepped to the mark
it was my first shot was as cool as
ice and nv muscles were under perfect
control. Imade two bull's-eyes out of a
possible three. When Mike stepped up
and raised his rifle he tossed his head
scornfully, but the liquor had affected
his nerves and his first shot was O. bad
one. He loaded his rife nervously and
raising it took long, steady aim. When
he pulled the trigger a great shout went
up and everybody crowded around me.
He had missed the bulFs-eye and I was
the champion. l was right proud of my
achievement and celebrated the victory
by drinking more liquor than was good
for me. Mike felt his defeat keenly and
accompanied by his friends left for
town. When l returned [ was told that
he was still unwilling to acknowledge
that was the champion. He admitted
that had distanced his feetest runner,
thrown his most expert wrestler, whip
ped his ablest lighter and fairly defeated
him as a marksman.
"sHe can beat me shooting ne said,
3but can whip him with my fists
when heard this you may depend
upon it I was pretty mad. I would
have hunted him up and settled the
matter that very night, but my friends,
knowing my condition, prevailed upon
me to go home. The next morning was
very cold. I came into town at about
10 o'clock and went to boatman's
supply store, kept by Jew where felt
pretty certain I'd find him Mike. sure
enough, he was there, with three of his
mates-the three had already defeated.
They were seated around great big
woodstove, and, entering the store [
locked the door behind me and put the
H. FIrI- a,5 biC f,,ioY. lie