The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-04

but did 1t.
 T was on two boats when they burned and was on the Roanoke when she blew up at Tate's Shoals. From 1884 to 1883 I was on the river, cabin boy, bar man, pilot and captain and most of the years was pilot and cap tain. never caused a boat to leak pint, never knocked down a chimney and never caused S25 worth of damage to a boat. I'm proud of that record.
 'In all my years on the river I never had a killing on one of my boats and no person ever lost his life on one of them. The three times I was aboard a boat that was burned or destroyed not a life was lost You know steam boat burns like a brush heap when 1t once gets started, but every time we were able to get every passenger ashore.
 q was very near having trouble once with Captain Johnson who com manded the Sam Dale, one of the big boats on the Alabama. I was pilot on the Magnolia at the time and in bring ing my boat to the wharf at Mobile cut one of the stay lines of the Dale.
 "A little later saw Johnson on the streets in Mobile. told him that had cut one of his lines but that 1t had been an accident. He said:
 '' Well, I'll let it pass this time, but if 1t ever happens again I will shoot you.'
 T said. Johnson, we've been friends, and wouldn't shoot you for every steam boat on the Alabama River
 This answer touched him and after that he was the best friend I ever had.
 They were great times in those days. Everybody travelled on the river. great and small. was aboard the Marengo when Henry Clay made his famous trip up the river. The Maren- Fo was a fine side wheeler one of the the people turned out to see and hear Clay. He made six speeches on that trip.
 q heard Yaucey make his first speech in Montgomery after he had come out of his political retirement to lead the secession cause. He said in that speech that when he agreed to re-euter public life he signed his death w1rraut. He smoke the truth, too, for in few years he was dead.
 T knew John T. Morgan when he was nrartiein9 law at Cahaba. He was well dressed. good looking char He aIwavs reminded me oS smart up country school teacher then. Pettus vvas even then a particular friend of "'in@ I knew Vice President willtan. R. King quite we'll He had the most nerfect dennr'nent and behavior of any man ever saw When he was on boat he charmed evArvbody aboard by his courtesy and address.
 Back In Pioneer Days.
 Jeremiah Austill. the old pioneer who had a part In the Canoe Fight. lived along the river and was ono of my early friends. I was well acduaint- ed with Henry W. Hiliard. who lived in MontRomerv. He was s smart man. too. old John Anthony Winston used to admire a great deal. He made ire nuent trips on my boat before he was Governor and while he was Governor.
 When stearnboatlnF was in its prime there were packets on the riv- CT between Mobile and MNntgnTnerv. Every night of the week sxcept Sun dav night. a boat left Mobile for Mont 9omerv. On Tuesdavs and Saturday rights two boats went up. The price of a ticket either up or down was S10. A dollar a hale was charFed for cotton and each one of the first class boats carried a thousand bales. Fifty cents was charged for a barrel of freight of whatever nature it might be, There was a stage between Mobile and