The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-09-06
STEAMBOAT STORIES.
a Piucky Captains Bluff on an Ohio
River Boat.

known on the Ohio river, and particularly
i'm the Memphis and Cincinnati trade, was
onc Of the hest boats os her class, although
/ can't say that l have, or ever had, a very
hig opinion of her class. She belonged
to what was generally. known AS Cincin-
natl tubs gusHl carriers, but slow; short
and broad. with very blunt bows. very
heavy and very trongly built boats"
Tins spoke II veteran engineer to u select
cotsric OF n dozen or 80 c'ioicc spirits con-
grsgotcd about ~ tier OF barrels on the
lcvec. He continued: FL am rcmindcd
of her hy Al story recently printed in the
Gin5r- Heu,ocT,rt, because in her cabin I
once Witnessed one al tho finest cxh.h.-
t;ons of courage, aud what il commonly
fortune to scc. I won't give the name uf
the captain for tho simple reason that I
, "a, NOT nih irr,n.- ,n H.. i.rr n,, !. ,n'Ths
notice of the public as the hero OF a scn-
~>atiun, even II il did occur years ago."
Urged to tell the story. the veteran. Az
!iiy.nt!y will, rciuctaicr. related the bis-
tory of u trip up the Ohio, of which the
following IL the substance:
II was in tSsS. ami W., were froipg up the
Ohio with two companies of Federal sol
dicrr' oii board. probably iJoof them. The
calm. We had. besides as many cabin
passengers as We could carry. among them
a number of Confederate officers who had
been prisoners and were released on
parole. dust before reaching Louisville
the captain in command of the Federal
troops began one of those movements so
popular in those days. He called a meet
ing of the passengers, and after a brief
little ADDRESS setting forth tie pleasures
of the trip and the efforts of the officers
of the boat Ia contribute 10 the comfort of
those on board. suggested that il would b,
altopciiicr proper to put their feelings in
words aud tn present the captain i'm due
form with a set of resolutions expressive
of their sentiments. Everybody. of course.
act,nirsc,,i. and a committee, with the
Federal captain 1T it, head, was appointed
to draw mp the rc,.olut;ons. In tue time
the papcr was ready for signatures, and
to the table in the enter of the
ladies cabin and attach his autograph.
Opposite a number of their names were
written military titles. followed by the let
tcr-s L. =. \. Finally il came the turn of n
gentleman, l think his name was Roberts
or dsati,ins. to sign. He did so in a neat
writing of a lady. aud after his name he
wrote .'~'t'aptain.. &: =. A.. The Federal
stood by the table and acted a. u sort of
master of ceremonies. and al course saw
what the Confederate captain had writ
ten. In tones not loud, hui imperative, he
said: "Scratch that out, sir!' The young
Confederate officer colnret' MP. and re-
Piled i'm a vote, heard distinctly by every
body in the vicinity: .IIi not do il, siri"
Then followed a painful silence of prob
ably a minute. during which everybody
from probaDl three ar four persons no
one kiicw what had given %oiicnsc. The
silence wa. broken 10y the Federal officer.
who, speaking To the assembly, said:
'1Iis man. "a ri,rDicd prisoner, has gross
ly insuited me and every loyal person
present by writing opposite his name the
title Captain. e. 5. A. l insist he shall
scratch ii ont
The Confederate officer drew himself
up to his fnll heigh and responded: II
notice that "A number of gentlemen here
have thought proper to write their military
exampies / have done. tie same. The titi..
l have written was won he me on the field
of battle. and l have never disgraccd il,
nor have 1 ever. by any act of mine. de-
prived myself of the right tn use il. I am
n Confederate officer, and am now "a pa
roied prisoner. When bro,,eh. into the
presence of the commanding officer of
the division. brigade regiment and COM
parry after being made II prisoner. each
my title by addressing me 10y it.and / deny
the right of any man tn forbid my using
it,"
At the close of this little speech the
Federal captain turned on his heel and
strobe mp the cabin.
rlwhile all this was going on in the cabin
the captain was on the Roof i'm blissful ig-
norance that there was anything wrong
below. until some one ran up and told
federal and confederate officers. He has
tened below. entering the cabin just in
time tai see the federal officer emerge from
his stateroorn and stride down the cabin.
with. his sword rattling against his side
and his hand ON its hilt. IL was evident
that he was i'm "a very fierce huinor. The
commander of tho boat, not knowing what
the trouble was. followed the. army officer
but said nothing. Marching mp tn the
sttbit WUtfF III IstI"T ltNs tHt TfNts'fstl
officer, half drawing his sword, said. adj
dressing the confederate captain: "Sir. l
am captain - of the United States
army and I command YOU to erase either
the title or your entire signature from
that paper"
"Captain-.I am glad la know You. sir.
! am Captain of the Confederate States
army, and I cannot obey your commando
The two military men glarssI at each
elimination of the scene. when the con-
mandcr of the boat stepped tn the front
and said: Gentlemen! gentlemen! this
il all wrong. What does il mean ?"
"Nican, sir: mean? Why, il means that
that fellow has dared insult this entire
sir. 10y writing the letters e.. =.
A. opposite his name, and l insist he shall
erase them. and l mean tn make him do
it,"
The Confederate captain said, adhr~.ss-
ing the boats commander; ~ have i'm
suited nobody. Nobody hut the gentleman
who has just spoken pretcrrds to he in-
suited. ] certainly meant no insult; but
the title l have written was honorably
won by me-. and, having written il. 1 re-
fuse to erase H.. l am "A passenger OH
your boat, and l claim your protection
from that fellows brutality. II you do
not or can not protect me, will have to
The federal officer was fairly beside
himself with rage, as lac rrjoincd: ~
will put you i'm irons, sir, If YOU do not at
..,x.a .,.lrtx For $50,