Year: 1876

+
| Well, we've been fishing to "Yal


lei" creek, and when I say zoe I NEAR
w. w. Naive, Master Willie Coli
shaw and your hurhble contributor
On Friday morning Of last week, this
trio took passage in q canoe for ''Yal-
Ter" creek with Mr.. Naive as pilot


Willie CollishaW as engineer, and my,
self as head clerk, and after getting
fairly out into the Cumberland, we put
on all the steam she was able to bear
and steered direct to the piscatorial
land of our early dreams, hopes and
desires. We had not proceeded very
far before we hove in sight Of a monster
steamboat putting and blowing, trying
to make Martins Shoals, and from the
confusion on board. (on board the
steamer I mean) we felt certain that
she did not desire a collision with our
formidable little craft, and she blowed
her whistle, and then pufed, and then
blowed again, finally she made sud
den tack upon her larboard, and gave
us wide berth. It is we'll she did,
for thought at the time that she was
notinsured. Wepassed on down with
out further incident. until we reached
the rapids" just above Palmyra,
when the pilot bringing his glass to
bear, discovered something threaten
ing in the far off distance after scrutin-
izing long and closely, he came to the
conclusion that the obstruction was
either catfish trying to stem the cur
rent or tow-head planted by nature
to warn inexperienced mariners of
dangers ahead. but as we did not be-
long to this class of bipeds. we scooted
along boldly and fearlessly, especially
after the remark made by our daunt-
less engineer which was to the effect
that he could push this craft over any
at-fsh in Cumberland river, and as
for tow heads he generally went around
them, as they ''wer'nt" much for hav-
ing water on 'em. After this comfort
ing assurance felt doubly secure in
the possession of life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. At Palmyra we
were greeted with laundering round
of applause from the citizens. l, as
head clerk of the Mollie Swift, arose
with powerful dignity, doffed my hat
with solemn majesty, and thusacknowl-
edged their Lilliputian demonstra-
tions. I tell you 1 appreciated the Sit
uation profoundly / did the honors
gracefully, reverently, and with no.
BILE mien. l guess them Palmyra fell
lows wont forget US soon. After we
had passed the city I looked back and
saw scores of 'em wading out knee
deep, trying to catch long, lingering
last farewell. I reckon they thought
that inasmuch as that was the first
sight they ever had of us and the
Mollie Swift, it might perchance be the
last. In an increditable short space
of time we reached Yaller" creek.
On the way between Corbandale and
"Yaller" creek we passed high post
stuck in the ground painted white,
some figuring handsomely done on
the outside Our worthy engineer
informed us that it was nothing but a
mile post. From what point it in
dicated mile he did not inform US.
After landing at the creek we found
it was pretty much like all other creeks,
only little more so, especially in re-
Terrence to mud. After partaking of
refreshments provided by our better
halves, we planted ourselves in the
mud, Waltonized in deadly earnest.
We struggled with EN- until near sun
set when it is the privilege of the
visitor to count the spoils. After
summing up we found that we had ex-
actly enough for supper. After sup
per we concluded we would rig up for
a big catfish, and right here let me
say that when you hear the popping of
corks it reminds you of ''conviviality,


and when you hear Of the popping of
lines it reminds you of catfish. The
rope maker has failed as yet to make
a rope strong enough to hold the cat
fish that broke our honorable pilots
line. 1 think it probable that if he
had used steamboat cable for line,
an anchor for hook, and an anvil for
sinker, he might have stood some
chance of catching his cat-ship. After
these narrowing scenes we went to bed
somewhat crest-fallen. The next
morning we renewed the struggle with
varying success. sometimes getting a
bite and sometimes not, more frequent
ly not. We fshed faithfully until
dinner, with nothing caught except
two or three gar landed safely upon
terra frma by our indefatigable en-
gineer.


We had made arrangements with
the Matt Gracey to bring us home 10
the evening, (how don't infer from this
that we felt our inability to get home
on the Mollie Swift but let me tell
you the Mollie Swift is mighty bad for
going down stream, but she don't go
up stream worth cent. We knew
her idiosyncracies, therefore did not
wish to tax her energies, and we lashed
her to the side of the Matt Gracey.
At 3 o'clock we boarded this peerless
little craft and scooted up the river for
New Providence. We found Captain
Collishaw at the wheel, (the pilot wheel
l mean, and not the wheel that pushes
her along) and Capt. Gracey at the post
of duty, and let me tell you that ifyou
want to go fishing or bear hunting, the
Gracey is the boat to go on, or if you
want anything shipped from 4 penny
nail to Dover road farm, the Matt
Gracey is the boat to do the job.


When we started out from "Yaller"
creek the steamer Liberty, with thirty
tlco boilers and seUenteea 'scope pipes
came rearing and plungipg after US
as if she would 'chaW" us up if she