The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-18

soon demonstrated that ne was no novice
either in the pilot house or on the boiler
deck There was a rise in the river, and
without any dkhculty the boat reached
old Washington. where the surprised cit
liens turned out and gave the steamboat
crew warm and hearty welcome. They
had a dance and a moonlight excursion,
and whisky flowed freely.
The voyage was continued up the rlVer
until Buzzard actually had the satisfaction
Of tying up the fine steamboat almost at
his own doorstep. Here happened some
thing which attracted little attention al
the umes but the crew afterWard con-
ciuded their captain not so much OF
fool after all. There was an object in the
voyage. Buzzard induced the pilot and
nearly all OF the crew 10 go on fishing
expedition 10 a neighboring bayou, where
there was a country store. He AberSlly
supplied them with money, and warned
them to bring back plenty OF whisky.
During the DAY Buzzard and his wife
made several long trips on into the hills,
each time returning with big SACKS, pref
~ well nlled with something on their
shoulders. Later in the day they moved
everything out of the little cabin on board
the Silver Spray. Buzzard was now IN
most excellent humOr. He got glorlousiy
drunk, and would not rest until the whole
crew were in a like condition. Steam was
raised, the flag hoisted, the bell rung, the
EOS the boat started, with scarcely a man
on board sober enough 10 stand on his
feet. Strangely enough, they slipped
through Munsons shoals. squeezed
between the rocks at Hidalgo Fails.
threaded the bars at the mouth OF New
Year 5 creek, anu were uproariously drunk
and fidding, and dancing, when there was
an easy, grinding, almost noiseiess stop
page of the boat. The big wheel was sun
pounding the muddy waters, but the boat
slowly stopped, and the fiddler on the
capstan said Hard aground for the sum
mer. surer nor blazes"
1t was nearly daylight. and the crew.
exhausted with the debauch, fell down On
the decks wherever they happened to be,
and went to sleep. The sun was rising
above the tree tops when Mr. Buzzard
raised up on his elbow and said: wen,
I'll just be burned eff we amt stuck IN
the middle of a cornheld! 1t was true
enough. The tasselling corn stood up
thick around the guards of the boat and
nothing but corn could be seen for mile
or more in any direction. The river was
falling very fast and thirtyIix hours al
terward the Silver Spray was standing
high and dry in old Col. Chessher's corn
field, five miles from the Brazos. The
waters of the Brazos had not been there
before since the settlement of the coun-
try. Buzzard was in favor Of drinking
of the boat but better counsel prevailed.
The crew walked across the country to
the railroad station and Buzzard and his
wife and children remained on the boat.
1t was rather an unusual sight to see a
big stern-wheel steamboat out in the mid
die Of a eornfeld, and for three or four
weeks people came from every direction
to see it. Buzzard stayed pretty close to
the boat, but ne purchased a pair of
mules and light wagon and made sew
eral trips back to his old home on the
Brazos.
Late in the fall Buzzard and his family
again appeared in Houston. A circus and
travelling menagerie had just been strand
ed in the city and the sheriff was selling
off the show property under an execution.
Buzzard was just about drunk to be fas-
cinated by thing of that sort, and he
commenced bidding on everything that
was offered for sale. A big snake II feet
long was Knocked down to him for $500.
Next hc9bid 81 900 for a Bengal tiger and
got him. A big elephant brought $1,000
and Buzzard became the owner. He bid
on everything in such a reckless manner
that the sheriff and the show people We're
in an ecstacy or delight. Inc judgment
was soon satisfied, and the show people
had more surplus money coming to them
than their whole outfit originally cost.
Buzzard paid for everything, and being
troubled with an irresistible desire to treat
everybody, he soon had the show people,
and every one else who would drink with
him, as drunk as he was. A big crowd
was following the strange character from
place to place and the saloons were reap
ing a rich harvest. Finally BuZzard con-
cluded to have a show at night and a
grand procession instantly. The mem
bers of the brass band were full of enthu-
siasm and everything else supplied by
the average Houston bar. The circus
l. horses were hitched to the wagons and
cages, and the big elephant was brought
out and saddled. Buzzard was suddenly
seized with doubt as to whether his
proper place was on the back of the ele-
plant or in the cage with the lions. The
circus people, discovering that he was an
apparently inexhaustible mine of gold,
whisky, and fun, were not disposed to
feed him to the lions yet awhile, and they
persuaded him that the post of honor and
danger was on the back of the royal ele-
plant. Dressed like an Arab sheik, with
turban and sword, followed by Mrs. Buzz
zard and the children arranged in man
ner that suggested painted Comanche
squaws or wild Circassians, he mounted
the big elephant. The circus people could
hardly keep their faces straight, and
everybody was roaring with laughter.
The band struck UP Dixie" and the pro-
cession started through the streets.
All Houston was at the windows or on
the housetops watching and enjoying the
fun, for by this time everybody had heard
of Buzzard. Down near Buffalo Bayou
the elephant stopped and began swaying
his trunk Whether a spirit of deviltry
suddesly possessed the elephant or wheth-
er the spirit of deviltry originated with
the conductor and was communicated to
THE elephant in some mysterious way, the
deponent sayeth not. Certain II is that
the elephant made straight for the bayou
and in he plunged. 1t was in vain that
BuzZard roared, Mrs. Buzzard shrieked,
and the children squalied. The elephant
marched straight into deep water and,
filling his trunk full. turned it over his
head and poured a flood into the howdah,
nearly drowning the Buzzards. Old Buzz
zard fiourished his sword and roared like
lion. Finally the elephant lay down and
rolled over Buzzard was good SWIM
mer, and he managed to get to the oppo-
site shore with his wife and children.
Seated on the bank, with the muddy water
dripping from them, they presented pic
ture to excite pity, but the spectators
laughed until everybody was hoarse.
Now comes the strangest part of the
story The Buzzards remained seated on
the banks of the bayou until the sun went
down. They seemed to have realized that
they had been furnishing amusement for
! i