Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
A TITAN.

During the early part of the last cen
fury many families We're emi@rating
from Virginia 10 Kentucky. Their uSu-
al route WAS down the Ohio river by
means of tiatboat>.
Among the emigrants of that day
was Colonel Alan MacMinn of Scotch
Irish descent. His tathOut bad con
sisted, besides stores. of his wife and
daughter and three men and two wo.
men negro slaves. The colonies right
hand man was an enormously strong
negro whose strength had VOL him the
name of Titan, though he was familiar
~ called lite
The Ohio and Mississippi rivers were
infested in those days by some very
rough people Piracy was not uncom-
mon, and there were no government
officers to check II. One day when the
emiGrant party We're nearing a settle
ment which is now the city of Louis
vile they saw Il boat put off from
the shore and head directly for them.
As soon as it drew near il was plain
its occupants were bent on no good.
They were Il hard featured lot. dressed
in coon skin caps and buckSkin clothes.
and were all armed with rifles and pis-
tolls. However, the settlers were often
thus dressed, and Colonel MacMinn was
not sure OF these men until they had
boarded his boat. Then they ut once
took possession and ordered him and
his family below. where they We're
placed under guard. The negro mon
they required 10 work the boat.
lite made it appear that he was de
liphTGI with tho since hX
serving the pirates he might earn his
freedom. This surprised his fellow
slaves. but as soon as he was able lie
told them that this was to prevent
suspicion and he would watch for an
opportunity 10 recapture the boat.
The pirates. seven in number, soon
after taking their prize found them
selves in what are called the falls Of
the Ohio, a part of the river where the
current is very rapid. 1t was night
and very dark night. Their captain
was somewhat anxious as to the safety
OF the property he had become possess
ed of, though he cared nothing for hu-
man life. Among the stores on the
boat was Il barrel of rum, which his
men appropriated. lite watched them,
hoping that they would get stupid.
but they stood an enormous quantity
of liquor and were rather inclined to
dance and sing on deck. Their cap
tain cursed them for idiots, then ignor-
ed them, trusting 10 lite and the two
negroes TO navigate the boat. lite
stood ut the big steering oar secured to
the boat by 4 wooden pin. while his
fellow slaves were lodging the drunk
en- pirates, who were amusing them
selves hurting whatever they could
find at them. The captain was at the
front of the boat pecring down the
river
lite passed the word to his fellow
slaves that he was about to attack
the pirates. and they promised To help
him. Since the blacks We're without
any arms whatever. the attempt was
hazardous and if unsuccessful would
result in their death and possibly that
OF the family. When lite spoke the
pirates We're separated, but before he
could act two of them had Joined the
captain. However. lite made up his
mind TO proceed. He left the three
pirates TO his three men and went for
ward.
Approaching the captain as if TO
make Il suggestion, he seized him
around the body. The other two men.
quickly taking warning, sprang for
lite ana Cmdeavore1 To pull him off.
one of them drew 4 pistol, but dropped
ii on the deck. While he WAS looking
for il lite succeeded in kicking his
cOmrade I'm the stomach, which para
lyzed his efforts. and the negro, putting
forth all his gigantic strength, raised
the captain in hlS arms ana threy; INN
into the river. Then, taking up the man
he had kicked, he served him like
wise BY this time the man looking
for his pistol found it. but lite seized
1t and shot him dead.
Meanwhile the other two negroes.
WSiOse enemies We're separated, ran 10
the nearSt pirate, seized him and
threw him overheard. The other two,
seeing danger. got together and were
attacked by the two blacks. one of the
blacks was wounded 10y a shot, and
the other was getting the worst of il
when lite came up and, seizing first
one pirate then the other, threw both
overheard At the moment a man on
guard below, having heard the scuf-
fling, came out and was served in the
same manner.
All this had scarcely been accom-
plished when the captain was discov-
cred climbing over the stern. but lite
pushql him back into the river. Two