The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1909-03-13

with other boats of the govern
ment feet on the Mississippi river in
looking after the levees, keeping the
channel clear and the government
lights burning, and the numerous 9th
er matters that the government has
assumed in connection with the navi-
cation on that stream"
Capt Dickson was retired secret
service officer and had known him
for many years. He had no thought
of publishing his "reminiscences. but
when | could get him under the infiu-
ence of a warm fire In his coy par
Tor, pipe, and glass-never more
than two In an evening-of his favo-
rite sherry, always got something
that was worth publishing and | used
to tell him so. And as the principals
to the affairs were so hidden in the
telling and the locale of the events
was usually so far away he did not
object. / prefer to tell 1t in his own
words.
The boat had been operated by the
government until II had been consid-
cred unsuited for its needs, and then
II was sold to q curious old river man
named Hank Parlow, who employed II
as a trading boat, towing a large fiat
boat with it, and picking up such odd
jobs of towing and freighting as
chance threw in his way.
was in the Office OF the surveyor of
customs at certain Mississippi river
city one day when Parlow came in to
have his license renewed and the sur.
veyor introduced him TO me. He was a
peculiar character, and when 1t came
to paying the fee for the license, Par
low drew forth a greasy pouch from
some indetermlnate place OF conceal
ment about his person, and paid the
amount from $50 gold piece. He
asked for his change In gold, but as
there happened to be none in the
office Just then he accepted the silver
and bills with some showing OF reluc-
lance and bowed himself out OF the
office.
After he had left, the surveyor told
me that Parlow was miser and was
reputed TO be worth many thousands
of dollars. His fortune, so the river
men said, was concealed somewhere
about the boat Davy Jones, and II
was thought to he all in gold, as Par
low invariably had every bit of silver
and every bill that fell into his hands
converted into gold coins at his first
opportunity
didn't see Parlow again until some
weeks later, when he came into my
office and told me that his boat had
been stolen from the wharf the night
hefore and he wanted me to find II
He was frenzied with grief and cha
grin and swore, with many black and
long.winded oaths, that he would Kill
the thieves on sight II he could fine
them. | doubted II the case was one
in my Jurisdiction, but ] wired the par
ticulars to the department at washing
ton and received instructions to go OF
search for the vessel and endeavor e
| capture the rogues. II seems tina
there had been considerable complain
from the port where | was then sta
| tlOneu, OI lHtltb VI tOON' $3.50
articles from steamboats,, and as TN
work was attributed to a gang OF rive
nirates. the chief thought II would b'
a good Job to round up. the gang ant
nut them where they would do M
harm.
Parlow offered to pay all expenses
and he told me that friend OF his
a sallow, slouching fisherman named
Wastrow, owned fast cabin gasolin
boat that would be put at my disposal
wired notice of the theft of the Dav
Jones to points along the river and 1t
tributaries, as felt sure that the boa
could not remain long undetected II
showed itself at any port OF the Mis-
sissippi.
The next morning when opened m
office, ! found dirty slip of pape
among the letters In my mail box. Il,
amining II. discovered mcneil writin