Year: 1859

me down to New Orleans, IN company
with Thomas Bigbee an old friend and
former schoolmate, who was now on his
way to his home in Mobile. The wealth
er was extremely cold, but the comforta-
BILE cabin of the palatial steamer Monte
yuma, with the luxuries afforded by the
attentive officers of the boat furnished
us with the means of enjoying ourselves
as well as travellers can enjoy themselves
away from their own firesides. Men whol
voluntarily coop themselves up together
for weeks Imprisonment are very apt
to seek amusements from each other and
it was not long before disposition to be-
come social began to manifest itself
amongst the passengers. Tom and l oc-
cupied stateroom near the ladies' cabin,
and it was with the occupants OF the
neighboring rooms that we first struck
up an acquaintance. One of them was
middle-aged gentleman, named Merton.
The other, gaily dressed, dashing little
fellow, introduced himself as Frank
Cherrute, of st. Louis. took dislike
to this young man when l first saw him.
1t may have been his blue dress coat with
brass buttons that displeased me with
him. This dress have always abomi-
mated, for it gives the wearer, to my eye,
the appearance of a gambler; and of all
animals in the world, l think the profes-
sional gambler is the most despicable.-
But Cherrute's lively conversation and
agreeable manners partially dispelled my
prejudices, and we four speedily became
close travelling companions. l was
pleased to observe that young Cherrute
carefully avoided the card table in the
forward part of the boat, and spent his
time principally by the stove with US in
The after part of the cabin. But thi:
might have been done q privately ar
gued,) with a view of playing deeper
game than that of poker. He had heard
Mr.. Merton casually mention that he hat
ten thousand dollars in his trunk, and i
nioht be that he was all this time "play
ing his cards" to gain possession of thi
treasure. The moment after entertain
ing this thought, 1 felt half ashamed o
myself, for, in honest truth,my estimate
Frank Cherrute's character was founde
only upon the fact that he wore blu
dress coat with brass buttons. He dp
peared to be all frakness and honesty
his face was remarkably pleasing and III
telligent in its expression and each hour
acquaintance with him served to impre;
me with a more favorable opinion of hin
/ pretended to be an excellent judge
human nature, but l must admit tn;
this young fellows character puzzled N
greatly.


Well, the sequel TO my naritive wi
prove to the reader how near came
guessing the truth.


As was saying, it was not long befo
a disposition showed itself on the part
the passengers to become sociable. I
the second day out from st. Louis tt
inclination led to a general sociability.-
Desiring to be very particular and trut
full in my narrative, l must add that on
one man in the whole crowd kept hims
aloof from the rest-a gentleman in
black suit and white choker, long da
hair and bushy whiskers, who sat at
side table, near nis state-room, peeri
through pair of green spectacales il
the pagesof dilapidated book that look
as ifit might be Hebrew work writ
in the time of Moses. In every GRO
you will meet with one or two just su
unsociable characters as this gentlemi
whom some of the passengers set do
as a Mormon Elder, whilst others asse
ed he must be Baron Won Humbo
himself, or some other distinguished
eigner on his travels. Curiosity led
to examine the passenger list, when


discovered that the studious strangt
name was DR.. Herman Blukerwissel, I
that his destination was New Orleans
Although he always sat at our elbo





when Cherrute, Merton, Bigbee anc
were conversing, yet not word did


ever succeed in eIciting from our I
neighbor. We at length concluded I
he did not understand our language,


so ceased our endeavors to draw him
conversation.


But, my gracious if l stop on


road to describe every passenger on
boat, perceive it will be tedious j
ney to the end Of my narrative, wi
principally concerns Mr.. Merton and
ten thousand dollars, Frank Cherrute


his blue dress coat with brass butt
and Tom Bigbee and his pair Of extr