The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-05-03

and dance around the fire; then they
will stop quite still, and cry bitterly,
then GALL at once,) commence with
their sticks, to turn the body over
and heap Goals upon it; then howl like
just SO many savages; then dance
again, and so on: each dozen having
their time, until the body is quite con-
sumed. A horrid sight, truly. All
aboard. on, on we go. Now we land
at the city of Tehama: it is about 3
o'clk. P. NJ. The cap'n says that its
no use to try any more to gain the
red bluffs; might as well think OF
running steam boat over Mt. Bige-
low, as up to the bluffs it's all up
hill, and just such current as | do
not understand how to master. Well,
I'm agreed; am mighty glad they've
bolted (the cap'n and colonel. | mean)
for | am tried of pulling on rope.
What next? here is Is. NJ of lumber
and about IL tons of goods-such as
Flour, potatoes, oats, boots, stockings,
drawers, &c, &C., that must be land
cd at Tehama. Mr. S. p. Coburn
has a lively interest in this merchan-
disc, and is on hand to look after
that interest. The goods are landed
and man hired to watch EN- over
the night. The Col. and his wife,
the cap'n and the clerk, Mr.. Coburn,
and the pilot. together with some or
4 more, are seated in the cabin, fthe
passengers being gomez taking a little
rest as most of us had worked hard
that day. The cap'n tapped me on
the shoulder, and said he wished a
word or two with me, privately. We
repaired to the clerks Office, and seat
ed ourselves. Said he, Mr. clerk.
you've done your duty nobly, especial
.ly when Juggling wood, and pulling
on the windlass. No fault to find:
never knew a man to work better. By
this time / felt nicely; / knew the
old fellow had a few days before,
received bewitching letter from his
young wife. who wished him to return
TO his home, in Ohio: and during his
hamming, &C, the thing had got into
my head-that he's concluded to re-
sign his Office, recommend me, to fill
1t, and bolt for home. | looked him
right in the eye, and said yes, cap'n,
| calculate to do my duty always, J.
reckon you do, he said but. said, /
reckon that we can't afford to keep
you much longer, as the expenses Of
the boat are too great. I'm going to
discharge Jim, the pilot. when we get
down, and reckon we'd better settle
up here, as Jake can clerk 1t down.
My eyes fell upon the floor of the
clerks room, and tried to understand
what the old satan meant: but he
didn't give me time to think. He
reckoned Coburn would hire me to sell
beads. &C, to the Indians an girls, for
which he reckoned l was eminently
adapted He reckoned there was
big profit on beads; and he kept on
a reckoning, until | made up my mind
the darned old fool didn't want me
about the boat, at all. Well, Cap'n
i never wish to hang around where
I'm not wanted. Where's Coburn?
this is fast country, and | must hunt
up chance quick, or the old Ounce
will throw me overheard just like
him; I'm told he drowned two men at
one time. find Coburn. who Is the
only friend | have left up here; I'll
stick to him closer than brother
Coburn. no man can do business. sure
and safe, in this country atone, and
say for Co? I'm willing how
shall we fix things? So and so:
agreed. Now it's bed time: morning
comes, and with it parting steam
boat breakfast: s o'clock: away goes
the little steamer. the Col. and his
wife. and the darned old fool OF n
captain I've ate the last clerks
breakfast. Confound your steam
boats, always hated them, and did
not intend to go back on that boat.
only to get down again.
Now partner. let's see now we can
come 1t over the natives. both black
&, white. That's It, Now look at
about ten indians and two white men
Juggling and pling lumber high on the
hank, so a rise of water won't carry
II off. 1-2 Ia new Co. and a new
store in the city of Tehama: all taken
from the stump. tthe store--not the
Co.) and finished in just $50 minutes.
Would you like to know something of
the city? 1t Is located on the bank
of the Sacramento river. 400 miles
from san francisco tue nOTlH, tHeTc
was one public house, three rum shops.
and a blacksmith shop. in town. when
we landed. AS fine q back country
from the river, as one ever witnessed;
lovely spot, and could | take my
wife & little ones, together with some
of my good friends at home, and To-
cate there, | would be pleased. pro-
vided, &c. Now for business: sign
Is fixed up by hanging out dozen
pairs of boots. stockings &c. | bor-
row big bell of my next door neigh
Dor, and ding dong goes the bell and
the good people are invited to give us
call. No sooner had | got thro
gassing to the outsiders than my
neighbor grabbed his bell, and ding
dong again. he called on the public
to sustain him. who was only 6 feet
from us, he being an old settler. &c.
Yes. yes. all right my good fellow,
but pray, how long since yon located
your traps here? las l knew the town
was not over six weeks old. any how.
and his store as new as Oursl His
answer was-this is the third day sir:
all right; we give 1t mp, and the firm
of e. C, fall hack unon the SYm-