Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-05-15

they agreed to Offutt's proposition, and
that agreement was the turning point
in Abe's career. They were each to re-
ceive so cents day and the round
sum Of $50 divided among them for
making the trip. These were wages
such as Abe had never received before
and might have tempted him to much
more difficult enterprise. When he
went with Gentry the pay was only
So month, and no such company and
assistance as he was to have now. But
Ofutt was lavish with his money, and
generous bargains like this ruined him
a little while after.
Second Tnp to New Orleans.
In March Hanks, Johnston and Lin
coin went down the Sangamon in ca
noe to Jamestown. Thence they walk
ed to Springfield and found Mr.. Offutt.
He had contracted to have a boat
ready at the mouth of Spring creek,
but, not looking after it himself, was,
Of course, disappointed There was
only one way out of the trouble-the
three hands must build boat. They
went to the mouth Of Spring creek,
five miles north Of Springfield, and
there consumed two weeks cutting the
timber from congress land"
In the meantime Abe walked back to
Jamestown by way of Springfield and
brought down the canoe which they
had left at the former place. The tim
RATED down to Sangamontown. They
built a shanty and boarded themselves.
Abe was elected cook and perform
ed the duties Of the Office much to the
satisfaction of the party. They man
aged to complete and launch the boat
in about four weeks from the time Of
beginning.
Offutt was with the party at this
point. He twas a Whig, and so was
Abe, but he (Abe) could not hear Jack
son wrongfully abused, especially
where lie and malice did the abuse"
Out Of this difference arose some dis
putes, which served to enliven the
camp, as well as to arouse Abe's ire
and keep him in practice in the way
Of debate.
In those days Abe, as usual, is de-
scribed as being funny, joky, full of
yarns, stories and rigs as being ''long,
tall and green,'' Frequently quoting
poetry" and ''reciting proselike ora
tions." They had their own amuse-
ments. Abe extracted a good deal of
fun out of the cooking; took his dram
when asked to and played seven up
at night, at which he made a good
game.
A juggler gave an exhibition at San
gamontown in the upper room Of ia
cob Carman's house. Abe went to it,
dressed in a suit of rough blue jeans.
He had on shoes, but the trousers did
not reach them by about twelve inches,
and the naked skin, which had excited
John Romine's laughter years ago in
Indiana, was still exposed. Between
the roundabout and the waist of the
trousers there was another wide space
uncovered; and, considering these de-
fects, Mr.. Lincoln's attire was thought
to be somewhat inelegant even in those
/, times. His hat, however, was a great
improvement on coonskin and opos-
sum. 1t was woolen, broad brimmed
and low crowned. In this hat the
Snowman cooked eggs" While Abe
was handing it up to him, after the
man had long solicited a similar favor
from the rest of the audience, he re-
marked, mister, the reason I didn't
give you my hat before was out Of re-
spect to your eggs, not care for my
hat"
Loaded with barrel pork, hogs and
corn, the boat set out from Sangamon-
town as soon as finished. Mr.. Offutt
was on board to act as his own mer-
chant, intending to pick up additions to
his cargo along the banks Of the two
Illinois rivers, down which he was
about to pass. On the 10th of April
they arrived at New Salem, little vii
lage destined to be the scene Of the
seven eventful years of Mr.. Lincoln s
life which Immediately followed the
conclusion Of the present trip.
Abe's Invenhveness.
Just below New Salem the boat
stuck for one night and the better
part Of a day on Rutledge's mill dam,
one end Of it hanging over the dam and
the other sunk deep in the water be-
hind. Here was case for Abe's inge-
nuity, and he exercised it with effect.
Quantities Of water were being taken
in at the stern, the lading was sliding
backward, and everything indicated
that the rude craft was in momentary
danger Of breaking in two or sinking
outright. But Abe suggested some un-
heard Of expedient for keeping it in
place while the cargo was shifted to
borrowed boat, and then, boring a
hole in that part of the bottom extend
ing over the dam, he rigged up an
equally strange piece of machinery for
fitting and holding it while the water
ran out.
III New Salem was assembled on
shore watching the progress of this
singular experiment and with one voice
affirm that Abe saved the boat, al
though nobody is able to tell US pre-