The Ordway new era., 1909-03-05

SEEMS prepOstcrous.
~ said Capt Dickson, that
thieves could steal and get
awe with Il full grown
steamboat and that. too.
I&S$y1 ON an inland river. But
k.S this Is Just exactly what
~ gang OF river pirates did
E}, In the case of the Davy
AtfH Jones. astern.whecl steam
XNkI boat that once belonged to
u1iikS the government service
and which was employed
q other boats of the govern
tt fleet on the Mississippi river In
Ding after the levecs. keeping the
knncl clear and the government
d. burning. and the numerous 9th.
|matters that the government has
3lmed in connection with the navi-
bon on that stream"
fap, Dickson was retired secret
|kice officer and had known him
many years, He had no thought
EpublishnE his "reminiscences, but
en | could get him under the infiu.
e OF warm fire In his coZy par
a pipe. and "A glass-ncvcr more
y two In an evening-of his favo-
\ sherry, ! always got something
was worth publishing and ! used
He'll him so. And as the principals
the affalrs We're so hidden in the
ing and the locale of the events
usually so far away he did not
ect prefer to tell 1t in his own
fds
he boat had been operated by the
fernment until 1t had been consid-
q unsuited for its needs, and then
pas sold to curious old river man
ped Hank Parlow, who employed 1t
trading boat, towing "A large fiat
i with 1t, and picking up such odd
OF towing and freighting as
rnce threw in his way.
was in the office OF the surveyor OF
toms at certain Mississippi river
one day when Parlow came in to
Re his license renewed and the sur
or introduced him TO me. He was a
fullar character, and when it came
paying the fee for the license. Par
drew forth a greasy pouch from
Pc indeterminate place of conceal
ht about his person, and paid the
punt from $40 gold piece. He
yea Tor his change in gold, but as
Pre- happened to be none in the
|ce Just then he accepted the silver
bills with some showing of reluc-
/ Pce and bowed himself out of the
fiter he had left, the surveyor told
mat Parlow was a miser and was
PWed TO be worth many thousands
dollars. His fortune, so the river
N said, was concealed somewhere
Put the boat Davy Jones, and it
thought to be all in gold, as Par
invariably had every bit of silver
every bill that fell into his hands
P'erted into gold coins at his first
Portunity.
didn't see Parlow again until some
eks later, when he came into my
|ce and told me that his boat had
u stolen from the wharf the night
Fore and he wanted me to find it.
was frenzied with grief and cha
Il ana swore, with many black and
(s,wlnded oaths, that he would kill
mieves on sight If he could find
(m' | doubted If the case was one
NY Jurisdiction, but l wired the par.
f''afs to the department at Washing
shd received instructions to go on
l.en Tor the vessel and endeavor to /
E'u,e the rogues. 1t seems that |
! mad been considerable complaint |
II 'he port where l was then sta
E.u' OF thefts Of goods and other |
tS'ss from steamboats,, and as the
was attributed to gang of river
es' the chief thought it would be
(Ooa Job to round up the gang and
Aem where they would do no
.ow h onered to pay all expenses,
(s,,e. ne 'old me that a friend Of his,
|..s' |ow' slouching fisherman named
Uw' NV owned fast cabin gasoline
(i,ssa a. would be put at my disposal.
4, ~ notice of the theft of the Davy
(n,o%s " points along the river and it's
"A Mes' sl' as felt sure that the boat
(v.S 49,. =. remain long undetected II It
Iipn, ''seir at any port Of the Mis-
Ia ~. morning when 1 opened my
bnr ~ .ound a dirty slip Of paper
Inis. ae :. letters in my mail box. Ex-
T. ! discovered pencil writing