The Bessemer indicator., 1894-05-12

filed with exciting and interesting
events, recollections OF which will
possess peculiar interest for thou
sands OF persons who have lived to
sec the great tide OF travel diverted
from these onoe shronged and popu-
lar routes by tho more aggressive
railroads.
Most OF tho captains and pilots OF
those busy river days wore men who
served their time upon brosdhorns
or keelboats. and rough and ready
set Of fellows they were.
One OF these old-time rivermen
was Unole Billy Russell. as he was
familiarly called. At one time he
was known from Cincinnati to New
Orleans. according to the Cincinnati
ENQUIRER. Six feet and massively
built "Uncle Billy" had bcen In his
prime man OF giant strength and
possessed Of unHinchinR courage, yet
slow to snger. and whom not aroused
kind hearted and . most agreeable
companion.
Ono OF his noted chsraoteristics
was a hatred Of injustice In any
form, or q strong believer. as he put
1t, in "fair play" and nothing would
more quickly arouse his fiercest re-
sentiment than to discover an unfair
advantage taken or the imposition
OF one man upon another. This
rather peculiar notion in those days
OF card playing and robbery on the
river made "Uncle Billy" unpopular
with the dishonest gamblers who in
tested many OF the river towns and
swarmed upon the steamers that
piled the waters Several years
after Russell had abandoned the fiat
boat for the swifter moving steamer
he was temporarily in command OF q
large steam boat on its up trip. b.
cause OF the Illness Of the captain,
who had remained In Now Orleans
Ono night the boat was compelled to
tie up at Natchez, "under the hill"
and wait for morning to resume Its
trip. A number Of passengers went
on shore and visited the dance houses
and gambling dens that were doing
thriving business in their line.
Among the crowd was . man
named Hall. who had taken . fiat
boat OF produce South. sold out his
BOAT and cargo at big profit and
was returning to his home near Gin
cinnati with the proceeds OF his sale.
He entered notorious house that
stood on the bank overlooking the
river. more through curiosity than
tho desire to game The place was
frequented by the lowest class OF
gamblers and desperate characters.
Hall foolishly displayed his money
and was at once attacked, brutally
beaten and robbed Of every cent and
then thrown out OF the building In an
almost dying condition, whore ho
was found and carried back to .he
boat by friendly hands. Russell
learned OF the affair, and, getting
from the lips OF the suffering VIC
tim all the particulars Of the out
rage. he went on shore early In the
morning and. going to the house, do
manded OF the proprietor the return
OF all the stolen money. The half
drunken ruffian laughed at the re-
quest, and. his saloon being crowded
with q gang OF fellows who would
murder man for a drink Of whisky,
the proprietor threatened the cap.
tain that II he didn't leave the place
Immediately they would throw him
out and treat him as they had his
friend.
"Pll 60" said the enraged officer,
"but your Infamous den will 60 with
me-"
Proceeding back to the boat that
was waiting his orders to pull out.
he directed the deck hands to get
the largest cable on the steamer and
follow him with sufficient weapons
for fight. Leading the way to the
house, a two.story frame building.
the cable was passed around 1t and
then in and out OF some Of the win.
dows and made fast In the upper
room were a number OF gam blers,
too busy to combat the river men or
see what they were doing. The pro
prietor was down stairs passing over
the liquor to the crowd Of hall
drunken and thirsty customers, and
did not comprehend what was going
on until the huge rope had securely
encircled his house. A. . throng o
spectators raised . cheer Russo
sprang on his boat and shouted ou
to the pilot. go aheAd" and to ths
engineer. "Let her gor'
Tho boat began to move, the rop,
began to tighten. the house began t.
creak, the inmates began to tremble
and the sound Of tearing timber an,
the oaths Of frightened men com
mingled. The boat moved serenely
on; tho cracking building began 4
sway and totter on Its foundation
The aroused gamblers rushed fror
tho jarring tables, the drunken rev
elers about the bar left their iiqu o
untasted and sprang from the saloon
The astonished proprietor pulled
pistol and. swearing he would shoe
the suthor Of all this comm motion n
rushed through his doorway just Q
the swsying and creaking buildin
yielded to the mighty pull and tor
pied over with . tremendous crash
The next instant the surging boa
dragged 1t into the river. Tho cabl
was then uuloosened and the steame
continued its course amid the cheer
OF an approving crowd and the yell
and curses OF . disappointed and on
ragged proprietor. who swore he woul
kill the daring Russell ON his rsturI
trip But the boatmsn had NOR
friends than the murderous gam BILE,
and he was never molested for d.
stroying one Of the worst places O
the river.
Her Taste.
Wife-You don't neem 70 90
much for my literary tastA.
II Husband-Whyf
Wife-You never ask what booh