The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11

About the early steamboat days on the
broad Mississippi, there fingers charm
around which after years have thrown a
charitable spell. They We're halcyon days
when the aristocracy of the South travelled
up and down the biz highway, and the
cabins OF the glorious old steamers rang
out with the open-hearted gaiety that the
hospital society of tho day enjoyed.
The captain WIFE much respected mon
arch, vet most courteous one. His am
bition in lite seem centered in the soeed
of his boat and the quality and quantity
of his larder. lie was willing to risk his
best 'nigger" on the one, if the safety
valve demanded il, as the old-time ex-
preston goes, or he would plunge his
purse on the other.
Then the freight competition and the
roustabout troubles had not made the
business an Improbable one. The happy
go-lucky darky felt pride In being a
Steamboat niRgah." The mate was grufl
and harsh. but there was a strange SYM
patty in the toe Of his boot, which the
rouster of today don't encounter. There
were boots to be polished at not less than
80 bits pair and grips TO carry at a
proportiOnately larger sum.
Postum. potatoes and gravy were not a
circumstance to the "leavln's" from the
cabin table. Yes, in all and all, those
were quality days" as the white-wooled
old Ievee loafer puts it.
But the thorn wGs in the rose and be-
hind that happy lie was one OF reckless
ness that often made the wall of q human
voice sound out from the bright cabin
.ransoms. Too often high-strung tempera-
ment came in conflict, and perhaps q
happy bride on a Journey with devoted
1 4
row-a widow. 4 rattle of ivory chips,
the smothered report OF pistol OK the
clash of knives on The deck where the
bowie reigned-yes, these We're in those
halcyon days, too.
Capt. John Minion's big stern wheel
boat the Stella was a favorite along the
lower Mississippi, and planters on the
coast would sometimes wait "a week or
more for tie Stella rather than signal
any other of the fleet craft that moved
past their landings. Capt. Minon was
possessed of personality. When this is
said, his popularity is explained. His
boat was well equipped. but it's
mast er was the drawing card. Then there
was hecaptain's charming wife aud young
daughter, whose society was feature in
its way, and even the wives of the planters
preferred the Stella, for Mrs. Minion was
high in their esteem.
During the month of June. when the
big oaks and sycainores along the banks
relieved the sheen of the water with their
broken walls OF green foliage, the power
full beams OF the Stella were moving in
monotonous strokes, propeIliDg the great
white house downthe river. The day was
hot and the lady passengers were loung-
ing in the hammocks and cots. doing the
bright afternoon away. The other
sex were scattered about, few nap
ping in the close staterooms while at one
| end of the cabin near the Office. a
ouintette were perspiriug freely around q
green. baize table. They had cards in
their hands, money on the table. and 70
genteelly express it, were merely passing
the time away. Captain Minlon was In
the plot house when he sighted horse
blanket waving vigorously at Mi Is land
ing. on the Tennessee side. His friend,
Col. Warner, owned n place near there
and he rightly surmised that the signal
was given by the colonel. The wheel
was whirled around and the boat put
about TO the landing. A dozen idlers
rushed to the rail, for lack OF novelty on
steamboat trip always keeps man "a
natural curiosity well alive. and
several ladies' sauntered cut on
deck to note tho new passen-
ger. The gang-plank was run out and a