The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-11-30
A TITAN
torleinaLl

ga
means Of natboats.
Among the cmlgrunts Of that day
was Colonel Alan MacMiun OF Scotch
Irish descent His hath0at load CON
sisted, besides stores. Of his wife and
daughter aud three men aud two wo
men negro slaves. The coloncrs right
hand man was an enormously strong
negro whose strength had won hlm the
name OF Titan, though he was familiar
~ called lite.
The Ohio and Mississippi rivers were
infested in those days 10y some very
rough people. Piracy was not uncom-
mon. ana there were no government
officers TO check H. one DAY when the
emigrant party were nearing settle
mcnt which Is now the lily Of Louis
vile they saw boat put on from
the shore and head directly for them.
As soon as Il drew near IL was plain
its occupants were bent ON no good
They were hard featured lot, dressed
In coon skin caps aud buckskm clothes.
and were all armed with rifles aud nis.
tolls. However the settlers were often
thus dressed. and Colonel MacMlun was
not sure OF these men until they had
boarded his boat. Then they 40 once
took possession and ordered him and
his family below. where they were
placed under guard The negro men
they required 90 work the boat
lite made IL appear that he was de
lighted with the capture. since 10y
serving the pirates he might earn his
freedom This surprised his fellow
slaves, but as soon as he was able he
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 90
the Ohio. a part OF the river where the
current Is very rapid. II was nlght
and very dark night Their captain
was somewhat anxious as 10 the safety
81 the property he had become possess
ed Of though he cared nothing for hu-
man life. Among the stores on the
boat was barrel OF rum. which his
men appropriated lite watched them,
hoping that they would get stupid.
but they stood On enormous quantity
% liquor and were rather Inclined o.
dance and sing on deck Their cap.
tain cursed them FOR idiots. then lguor-
cd them. trusting 10 lite and the two
negroes 20 navigate the boat lite
stood at the big steering oar secured to
the boat by wooden pin. while hia
fellow slaves were dodgiug the drunk
en- pirates, who were amusing them
selves hurting whatever they could
find az them. The captain was at the
front Of the boat peering down the
river.
Tite passed the word 20 his follow
slaves that he was about 70 attack
the pirates. and they promised 90 help
him. Since the blacks were without
any arms whatever. the attempt was
hazardous ana II unsuccessful would
result boa tLeii death aud possibly that
OF the family. When lite spoke the
pirates were separated. but before he
could act two Of them had Joined the
captain. However. Tite made mp his
mind TO proceed. lie left the three
pirates 10 his three men and went for.
ward
Approaching the captain as n 20
make suggestion. he seized him
around the body The other two men.
quickly taking warning. sprang Tor
lite aud endcavored 10 pull him of
one OF them drew pistol, but dropped
it on the deck While he was looking
for It lite succeeded In kicking his
comrade in the stomach, which para
lyzed his efforts. and the negro. putting
forth all his gigantic strength. raised
the captain In his arms and threw him
into the river Then. taking UP the mon
he had kicked. he served him like
wise. by this time the man looking
for his Tystol found it. but Tite seized
Il and shot him dead
Meanwhile the other two negroes.
whose enemies were separated, ran TO
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 by a shot, and
the other was getting the worst Of IL
when lite came up and, selling first
one pirate. hen the other. threw both
overheard At the moment a man ON
guard below, having heard the scuf
fling, came out and was served Ia the
same manner.
All this had scarcely been accom-.
plished when the captain was discoy-
cred climbing over the stern. but lite
pushed him back into the river Two
others Of the pirates attempted 60
climb aboard. but they were served IN
the same manner, aud at last the boat .
was free.
The colonel, being left unguarded. I
now came up from below, expecting
that the pirates had concluded TO muir
der the party and had commenced with .
the negroes. When he found that the T
boat was In possession Of his faithful .
slaves, sthat the lives OF himself and .
his family had been saved, his graft .
tude knew no bounds. lie gave every
one OF them his freedom on the spot
and promised an additional reward In |
the future.
lite and his assistants successfully !
navigated the boat TO Louisville. and |
a r a..