Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-15
THE WICHITA COUNTRY.
A Trip on a Mississippi River
Steamer, Years Ago.
Luke West the Minstrel, Performs on the
Bont-An Edcn-Likc Plantation and an
Arcadlau Nnlagc--A Hear Adventure.

Arcndiau Nlllagc--A Bcnr Adventure
Solomon says: "Man hath sought ont
many inventions" but among all his
devices for personal locomotion he has
never hit on any thing TO surpass-for
the man of lcisurc-thc Western steam
or, as il cxistcdi in the anti-railroad days,
thirty or forty years ago. The "lloat-
ing palaces" as some OF the finer ones
were designated, were then the only
means of travel on long journeys, and
there are numerous citizens of st. Louis
who can rcmcmb when our lcvec was
lined with them three or four abreast
from one end to the other. The ocean
steamer is more commodious, stately
and grand; but for solid comfort the
more humble Western boat, discounted
il by very large odds. On such II craft
one could be rs much at home as in his
own house, and for semi-invalid or
one who from any cause was indolent
and wanted to kill time pleasantly,
there was no better cuthanasia for old
chronos than Il trip on n iirst-class
Western steamer. | was suffering from
the restlcssncss incident to tedious
convalcsccnce after long illness, and
uncertain where TO seek relief, bethought
me of long cherished desire to see
New Orleans and other Southern points,
and having concluded to make the trip,
considered myself lucky when found
my old friend, Captain Dickinson, with
his small but clcgantly-iittcd steamer,
the Princeton, Just ready to start out,
The boat was built by Captain Dickin-
son, Darrah ~ Pomroy and the vener-
able Captain Clark, who was recently
harbor master Mt ST. Louis, and was
especially designed for the navigation
of the Southern rivers. On this-her
first trip-there were Just enough pas
scngcrs to ill her comfortably and one
could scarcely wish tor a plcasantcr set
of people for fcllow-pasScngcrs. Many
of them were ladies, and among them
were several musicians, both vocal and
Instrumental There was n good piano
in the ladies' cabin, and several of the
gentlemen had flutes, violns or guitars,
so there was plenty OF good music to
cheer the passengers.
On the first night out the sky was
dark and lowering, with indications of
a storm. Long before it was sundown
il was so dark in the cabin that the
lamps had to be lighted. The passen-
gers huddled together, most of them
looking anxious, and some of them
frightened. Aloat in storm would
have been new experience to nearly
all of them. just at this iuncturc n
startling effect was produced by a num-
Der of hands filing in and proceeding to
remove the furniture, take down the
chandeliers and put up side lights.
Every one thought it was preparation
for danger and for II moment panic
seemed imminent. 1t was lon learned,
however, that the captain was only
having the cabin cleared for dance.
A good string band had been provided
for the occasion and soon the pleasant
motion of the dance to the merry music
banished all thought of the threatened
storm, which, in fact, failed to material
iZe. Among the gentlemen was one
who called himself Kelly. He was n
remarkably fine volinist, and as he was
handsome and of peculiarly agreeable
manners, he Immediately became q
general favoritc. As the night grew on
and the dancing began to flag, Captain
ID. came into the cabin, announced that
there was an old negro ON board, who
was somewhat noted for his ability rs q
vocalist and dancer, and that, although
he was a little uncOuth, he would prob
ably afford some amusement for the
company, and if they cared TO hear him
he would bring him in. The proposal
was eagerly embraced, and the cap
tain introduced what appeared to be an
old and decrcpit negro, bending under
the weight of sixty or seventy years.
The ancicnt-lookng colorcd brother
proceeded To rcgalc the passengers
with "Old Black joe "Thc Log Cabin
in the Lane" My Old Kentucky
Home and several other negro mclo-
dies, with dancing interludcs, fairly
surprising the company with the rare
excellence OF his performances, no one
doubling that he was what he purportcd
TO be. When he had concluded, it was
proposed to take up collection for
him, but he said: "No, thankce gem
men and ladies. Dis old niger ncbbcr
sings nor dances for money; he has II
little tatcr and watermelon patch down
Souf, and his ole woman raises Il few
chickens and ducks, and dey gets all dc
money dey needs dat way during
this performance, every one had no.
ticcd the absence of Mr.. Kelly, and it
was supposed he had retired TO his
staterOom; but soon after its conclusion
he rcappc'.rcd and hisnumcrous friends
condoled with him on his not having
witnessed it. He replied that he did
notrcgrei il ut all, ,as he had seen so much
of that sort of thing that it wearied
la. Ga, l,1t Ia
was Kelly himself, who was sailing un-
der pseudonym TO conceal the fact
that he was the noted burnt-cOrk min
slrel, Luke West
Next dsy the weather was MS beauti-
ful as the most fustidiOus could desire,
and it continued so during the remain
der Of the trip. The delight of breath
ing the balmy air, freshcned by passing
over the water, and of sitting on the
guards promenading on the hurricane
deck, viewing the beautiful scenery ON
each side of the river, is something to
be remembered. -Four or five days thus
driited pleasantly away, with but few
incidents TO disturb the even tenor of
the way. OF course the mischicvious
boy was on board, and like all of his
kind WGs always doing something dan
gerous TO himself or others. Having
observed the dcckhands drawing water
from the river in a bucket attached to a
rope, he watched chance TO try his
hand at the feat. Not understanding
the trick, he was very suddenly ierked
overheard as soon as the bucket caught
in the water. Then there was n great
to-do The steamer was stopped and a
boat sent out for his rescue but he was
nowhere 10 be found. After the search
was abandoned, the boatmen saw the
bucket drifting some distance off and
thought they might rs well save that
anyhow, aid on attempting to pull it in,
very much TO their surprise, found the
boy cinging TO the bail, The bucket
bod caught some air in turning over,