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


tons; says he thinks there is right
smart chance of my learning some
thing: and thinks I'll do 1t yea, II
try hard. feel better for so much
encouragement goes to the pilot
house, and / to the clerks Office
wipe the perspiration, (this is mighty
hot country from my face, and rest
a moment On, on goes the boat,
and--but hold moment, here Is the
city of Sacramento; the boat lands, 2
o'clk Sunday afternoon, and one OF
the most mild and lovely days that
ever witnessed. The boat lays over
to Monday at o'clock, then she starts
for the Bluffs. wish to go on shore,
but dare not, for we have freight for
this city. At last / pluck up courage
and ask the captain II may go on
shore-he consents, as he is not liable
to pay duty or port charges on me.
Now I'm ashore, on high bank, look
ing down on the city. which Is from 8
to feet lower than the bank, the
said number of feet having been add
ed to the natural bank to keep the
water from overlooking the city, when
the river is high. The bank Is so
high, that the city is safe, when the
opposite bank is overlooked. Fifteen
rods from the bank, is 1st street, and
on it are built the first range OF stores,
running parallel with the river. |
go into the city after fighting my way
through any quantity of hogs, dogs
and rats. / gain the side walk on
first st. hear music; l make up
the Broadway of the city, there
find a band of Musicians, located on
staging, in gambling saloon, the
dimensions of which are sufficiently
capacious to accommodate 4 to 500
people. A part of the saloon is beau-
tifully fitted up, and part, such as
the drinking bars, with their gaudy
pictures. drunken men, &C., are abso-
lutely disgusting to sober New Eng
lander. The majority are drinking
and getting up steam for a hunt at
the deck heads Of numerous packs of
cards, dice, &C.. that are waiting their
time and yictims,) for no man in his
senses will gamble. unless he is one
of the profession. before getting
drunkD The minority are already
drunk and at It. The music is en-
chanting, the wine red. and the weak
minded are doped, and hundreds ruin
ed. My God! what a spectacle do |
behold before me. and upon the Chris
tian Sabbath. and this only one of
many similar establishments In this
city possess no other feeling than
that of shame and pity; involuntar-
No fsu no rf
the poor deluded victims who stand
before me. Great God! what will not
humanity stoop to for the almighty
dollar?' | am ashamed am griev-
ed: will look upon this picture no
longer. return to the boat, and
devote the balance of the day and
evening, in thinking of home and its
past scenes as witnessed by me.
draw, a comparison. I'm home-s'ck
l know | am. wish | was back
again. I'll retire; do so. and humbly
do | implore my God to protect me
from any participation In such scenes
as I have witnessed since arrived
In this country. am one OF His
erring children! to err Is human: and
in God alone. l put my trust. l re-
solve, and re-resolve, that will never
tamper, and Heaven helping me,
hope to maintain that resolution. The
next thing that | know (only in
dreams.) is in being called to duty
early in the morning. should have
stated that "a of all the stores and
trading posts of the city, were open
and doing business. as on any other
Il hn doU 10 IN
day of all Others, for the gambling
and drinking houses. On that day
many more people are In the city,
hence trade goes on, and no one to
say why do ye SO.
feel little brighter this morn
ing. having had one day and nights
experience in steamboating. de-
liver and check the freight, present
and collect my bills by IL past 10.
No credit. cash down. At 1 o'clock
We started for the Bluffs, having TAX
en- on 30 new passengers Passen-
gers always will hang around the
clerks Office and ask questions:
wish to be civil and treat gentlemen
courteously OF course, as any decent
steamboat clerk should. and In ans
wering many questions. got warmed
up and went into the merits of steam
particularly, and steamboating gene
rally. I explained to one cd fellow
the science and application Of steam,
the effect of a blow up. How q
boat might be affected by different
currents, &C., &C. 3 The old man
pumped almost dry, and had about
snagged me In some things. when
saw the old captain, fgood old SouD
coming. was mighty glad to see
him come along, for I thought he
might help me out. The old cap'n
makes right for the clerks door, where
stood arguing with the man, and
says. MIR. clerk. shall l make you ac-
quainted with Mr.. Hanna. one Of the
Oldest Ohio steamboat Engineers, and
the first man who ever run boat up
this river. Mr.. Clerk. Mr.. Hanna, and
In the same breath told me to pass
him up to Colusa as dead head
Hadn't he helped me out? How do
you think | felt? IL any man asks
me any further questions. I'll tell
him to go 10 the cap'n. Here we
are at Fremont, the city of Fremont
on the opposite bank Is the city oil
4 a -