The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-05-11


promised, and of speculations and bar
gains in which less figures than a
hundred thousand dollars were never
named. The general tone, even in
business talk, seemed to be light, buoy
ant and confident. Life seemed to be
going on, like the boat that carried US,
at high pressure.
Until ten o'clock did occupy my
self in visiting every part of the
steamer, and observing the passengers
| and their different tastes and occupa-
| lions. In one of the large saloons
| there was dancing and waltzing, to
after deck brass band was pouring
fourth stirring strains, and hundreds
of couples were promenading. The
moon had by this time risen, and the
| spectacle of her flood of light on the
wide river was grand indeed. Rats
and f1at-boats were passed, as well as
smaller freight-boats: and once the
steam-pipes of the Queen screamed
shri1l in answer to the salute of a large
steamer going up.
"That's the Prentiss, man near me
said. ''Some day they'll happen to
come together, going the same wav;
and then there,n be the biggest race
| this river ever saw. Both captains are
eager for it, and there'd be piles of
money bet on it. I'd hope to be there
that day."
isn't it dangerous?" a man from
| Boston inquired.
Dangerous? Well, maybe, little,
but we never think of that down here.
Steamboats, always have raced, and
reckon they always will. feel my
self just this way about it-that if I
owned one of these boats, and she
couldn't carry steam enough to beat
the other without bursting why, then
| let her burst, and be id to her"
"But the passengers?''
II should say they'd better be at
home, that trip I went forward and
found large number greatly interested
in the performances of one of the negro
| hands, who was dancing in grotesque
fashion to the drumming of banjo.
Then l went below, past the gilded
and mirrored mahogany bar-counters,
when half-a-dozen men in their shirt
sleeves were mixing fancy drinks for
noisy and thirsty crowd. Around
table in an adjoining saloon so many
! were pressing that I could not see
what the attraction was. They stood
on tiptoe and tried to peer over the
shoulders of those in front of them.
A large chandelier lighted the room,
but the point of interest was concealed
by the throng.
The pressure soon became so great
that l was crowded up against the
| wall. More to save myself from suffo-
cation than from curiosity, reached
up to the top of a decreasing, put my
foot on the knob, and was at once able
to elevate myself over all heads, and
look directly down upon the table.
The position was uncomfortable; but I
was not compelled to keep it more than
ten minutes. @rT.-. ~ Es~o
Two men sat at the table playing
cards. The one facing me recognized
at once as he who had been pointed
out to me by Mr.. Dorion as Conrad
Bostock.
The crowd overtopped them, hung
over them, but they paid no attention
to anything but their game.
Piles of gold and notes were upon
the table. could not see what the
game was or how it was being played;
but it was apparent that Bostock was
largely the winner. The pile of money
in front Of him steadily increased, and
the light sound Of cards striking the
table was now and then punctuated BY
something like an oath from the other
player.
Suddenly this man made noise
that sounded like a deep growl, and
drawing a knife from his sleeve
pinned to the table the card that his
opponent had just played. And SO
quickly that the whole seemed to be
but a single motion, he drew re-
volver, cooked it and pointed il at the
others head.
The crowd fell back in fright; some
were thrown down and trampled under
foot, some were carried back against
the wall, and many who could f1ed
from the room. The two gamblers sat
motionless.
You wouldn't send man out az