The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-05
HE ROPED THEHOUsE
THEN 1T WAS PULLED SLAP INTO THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Unclc Billy Russell, an Old Steamboat Cam
tain, Took n Striking Method of Revenp-
ing the Wrongs Done to n Friend In n
Gambling Den.
Tho early days of steamboating on tho
Ohio and Mississippi rivers were filed
with many exciting and interesting
events, recollections of which will nos
sess peculiar interest for thousands of
persons who have lived to SEQ the great
tide Of travel diverted from these once
thronged and popular routes by the moro
aggressive railroads.
Most of tho captains and pilots of
those busy river days were men who
served their time upon broadhorns or
kcelboats, and rough and ready set of
follows they were. All were almost
born and really educated upon the wa
ter, passing their days either in floating
down stream exposed to the various dan
gers of the voyage or YEARLY working
their boat up stream against the rapid
current and liable at any moment to be
attacked by some ono of the many gangs
Of robbers that infested all the region
through which they passed
Ono of these old time rivermcn was
Uncle Billy Russell, rs he was familiar
ly called. AT one time he was known
from Cincinnati to New Orleans Six
feet and massivcly built Uncle Billy
had been Ill his prime Il man of giant
strength and possessed of unflinching
courage, yet slow to anger and when
not aroused kind hearted and q most
agreeable companion But when pro-
voked TO wrath he not only inspired toy
ror, but was Stunned by his enemies.
One of his noted characteristics was IL
hatred OF injustice i'll any form, or Il
strong believer, as he put it, III 'fair
play, and nothing would moro quickly
arouse his ficrccst resentment than to
discover an unfair advantage taken or
the imposition of one man upon an
other. This rather peculiar notion in
those days of card playing and robbery
on the river made Uncle Billy unpopu-
lar with the dishonest gamblers who in
tested many of the river towns and
swarncd upon the steamers that piled
the waters. But the old fellows proves
and strength were too we'll known to
prcclpltate Il personal encounter between
him and the pasteboartl fraternity Sew
cral years after Russell had abandoned
the fiatboat for the swifter moving
steamer he was temporarily in command
OF large steamboat on its up trip, tie
cause of the illness Of the captain, who
had remained at New Orleans One
night the boat was compelled to tie ND
ut Natchez under the hill, " and wait
for morning to resume its trip. a num-
Der OF passengers went Oh shore and Wis
tied the dancchouses and gambling dens
that were doing thriving business in
their line
Among the crowd was Il man named
Hall, who had taken f1atboat of prod
uce south, sold out his boat and cargo at
big profit and was returning to his
home near Cincinnati with tho proceeds
of his sale. He entered notorious house
that stood on the bank overlooking the
river, more through curiosity than the
desire to game. The place was frequent
ed by tho lowest class Of gamblers and
desperate characters. Hall foolishly dis
played his money and was at once at
tackled, brutally beaten and robbed OF
every cent and then thrown out of the
building i'll an almost dying condition,
where he was found and carried back
TO the boat by friendly hands Russell
learned of the affair, and getting from
the lips of the suffering victim all the
particulars OF the outrage he went on
shore early III the morning, and going
to the house demanded of the proprietor
the return of all the stolen money. The
half drunken ruilan laughed at the re-
quest, and his saloon being crowded
with Il gang of fellows who would muir
der man for a drink of whisky the pro-
prictor threatened the captain that if he
didn't leave the place Immediately they
would throw him out and treat him as
they had his friend
"I'll 40" said the cnragcd officer,
but your Infamous den will 90 with
me-
Proceeding to the boat that was wait
ing his orders to pull out, he directed
the dcckhands to get tho largest cable
on the steamer and follow him with
sufficient weapons for Il fight Leading
the way to the house, Il two story frame
building, the cable was passed around
it and then in and out of some of the
windows and made fast In the upper
room were Il number of gamblers, too
busy to combat the river men or see
What thoy We're doing. The proprietor
was down stairs passing over the liquor
to the crowd of half drunken and thirs-
ty customers and did not comprehend
what was going on until tho huge rope
had securely cncirclcd his house. AS Il
throng Of spectators raised q cheer Rus
III