Fifty Years on the Trail. A true story of Western Life. With ... illustrations, etc

Preface

. An author who writes a long preface is a bore. I trust I shall not be voted an offender in this respect if I ask for a few moments the attention of my reader before he plunges into the story of John Y. Nelson, the man who is the subject of it. Living on the fringe of civilisation as he has for over forty-five years, during the period of what may be termed its transition state, he has taken part in scenes and episodes such as could only have existed under the exceptional circumstances of the opening up of a new country, and especially such a country as the Western States of America. Many of these scenes and episodes have been far from creditable to the persons concerned in them, and some of them not creditable to John Nelson personally. I make no apology for him ; if any can be found, let it be in the fact that nearly every man's hand has been against him, and his, doubtless, more than it should have been, against every man.

My object has been merely to give an unvarnished and circumstantial account of the existing events which have occurred to an individual whose position was no better than that of a " social outcast," a position he had sought of his own free will, not a position forced upon him by the violation of any of the laws of his country. FIFTY YEARS ON THE TRAIL VI In giving expression, or what may be better termed " local colour," to most of the incidents enumerated, I have adopted, as far as possible, my subject's own phraseology. Any attempt of mine to convert it into pure English, and thus deprive it of its idiosyncrasy, would only have resulted in a dire failure. This book is really a chapter in American Frontier history. The spots where villages, townships, and even cities now stand were familiar to Nelson as camping grounds long before the march of civilisation had penetrated the vast tract of country lately marked on the map of the United States with the word " Unexplored."

One of these maps side by side with one of to-day will explain far more eloquently than words the won derful changes that have taken place during the period of which this book treats. Few men have run more risks in life than John Nelson, and few can congratulate themselves upon having had more lucky escapes. He complains that he was born under an unlucky star. He that reads this story of his career will assuredly declare that this is ungrateful ; for if ill-luck really had pursued him, the first few chapters of his life would be all that would have been written, and I should have been spared a task which, although it has cost me much time and trouble, has also given me as much delight. One great disadvantage I have had to contend with. John Nelson's memory is very erratic with regard to dates.

This is, doubtless, due to an accident that hap pened to him some two years ago. From the explosion of a revolver a bullet passed through his left wrist, took

PREFACE.

VII an upward course through his mouth, and finally lodged in the frontal bone, from which it was expelled in an effort of sneezing. This bullet Nelson now wears sus pended round his neck as a memento of his lucky escape. If dates are missing here and there, or even if an in cident is misplaced, I ask the indulgence of my reader on this count. He who is familiar with the march of events of American Frontier history will readily dovetail anything into its proper place that may be somewhat out of it ; he who is not, will never know the difference. With disjointed narratives, disjointed dates, disjointed sequences of events, incoherency, prolonged sittings, and a thousand difficulties which few can understand, such as sitting with a loaded revolver in my left hand whilst I wrote with my right ; and on another occasion, when similarly engaged, having bullets whizzing round my head, I have at last finished my task in as coherent a manner as possible.

But whether this book is found interesting or other wise, or whatever diversity of opinion exists as to its literary merit, there will be but one verdict as regards its illustrations. A weak librettist bolstered up by a brilliant com poser has been known ere this in the theatrical and musical world ; why not a simile in literature ? What this book may lack in one respect, always assuming that any hypercritical reader finds it lacking, is amply atoned for in the other. Few living artists can paint an Indian as Paul Frenzeny, and fewer can depict scenes and character FIFTY YEARS ON THE TRAIL in the West as he can. With him this is a gift enhanced by long residence amongst these people. Had I sought the wide world through, I could not have found a more able pictorial exponent than he. Illustrating this book, he writes me, "has given me more pleasure than any work I have ever undertaken ; for it is so graphic that it recalls, without any effort on my part, scenes which I am able to draw, not from imagination, but from personal observation."

To Mr. Edward Badoureau I am also indebted for the trouble he has taken in the printing and preparation of this work. One word more. I must not omit to state that in one instance I have availed myself of the help of Mr. Arthur Robottom, who was a personal friend of Porter Rockwell, and received his information from Rockwell direct Mr. Robottom supplied me with some details concerning the number of persons who accompanied Brigham Young on his first trip to Salt Lake. Beyond this, and a portrait of " The Lion of the Lord," with which this gentleman has kindly furnished me, I have depended entirely upon John Nelson himself for the facts herein mentioned. Harrington O'Reilly. May 1889. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

eAGE Boyhood — A Bolt for Freedom — Slinging Dishes around — Wrecked on the Missouri- -Life on a Farm — Scared away — A Friendly Caravan— Boonville— Uncle's Ranch I

Chapter II

Cattle-herding— A Trading Party— The Boundless Prairie— First Hunting Experiences . . . . . . . . .14

Chapter III

Bound West — Arrival at the Platte River— An Indian Encampment — Civilisation forsaken— The Ogallalo Band — Adoption by " Spotted Tail " — An Initiatory Ceremony — Christened Cha-sha-sha-opoggeo — A Few Words about Buffaloes — An Adventure with them — Winter on the Solomon River ....... 24

Chapter IV

Habits of the Indians— Their Religion — The Sun Dance — Personal Mutilation .......... 39

Chapter V

Matrimonial Suggestions — Wom-bel-ee-zee-zee — An Inexplicable Squaw — Mother-in-Law — Patience rewarded — Trapping Beaver — Notes on their Peculiarities .......

Chapter VI

Fighting the Pawnees on Little Blue River — A Bloodthirsty Massacre — Wom-bel-ee-zee-zee vanishes — A Scrimmage on the Rickaree Fork —The Sioux Method of Warfare — Only one left to tell the Tale — Rickaree Tornadoes — Born Thieves ..... X PAGE :<• 136

Chapter VII

Early Traders— Two Buck Elk's Gratitude— Zint-calla-wee-ah— More Matrimony — Cotton-wood Springs again — A Strange Caravan- First Meeting with Brigham Young — Spotted Tail's Resolution .

Chapter VIII

Among the Mormons — Fort Laramie — En route for the Promised Land — Green River — Passage of the Rockies— First Sight of Salt Lake — Is it Snow? — Establishment of Salt Lake City — Arrival of the Mexican Contingent — Return of the Pioneers . . .86

Chapter IX

Farewell to the Mormons — Trapping with Canadians on the Platte River — First Scalping Experiences — A Bear Story — Arrival at St. Verain's Fort— Homeward Bound — Two Buck Elk's Greeting — Exit Zint-calla-wee-ah — New Matrimonial Experiences — Cong-he-sapa-wee-ah .......... 99

Chapter X

Camping on the Republican River — Drunkenness amongst the Brules — A Death in the Family — Indian Grief- Cong-he-sapa-wee-ah fillets herself — Two Buck Elk's Commiseration— A Trip to the Wajajas — Meeting with a Party of Emigrants— News of Thomas Atkinson — A Tragic Occurrence . . . . . . . -US

Chapter XI

Arrival at Laramie — Valaundrie and Joe Jewitt — Crossing the North Platte River — Tarantula Juice — The Raw Hide Butes — Crazy Woman's Fork — Trading with the Wajajas— Disagreement with the Canadians— Wee-ah-pee-ta-cha-la — First Gold-find in the Black Hills — Rejoining the Ogallalas— Return to the Brules on the Republican — Exit Cong-he-sapa-wee-ah — Gathering Clouds— A Government Commission to Laramie — Official Peculation — Dissatisfaction of the Indians — An impending Calamity . . . 124

Chapter XII

Establishment of Fort Kearney— The Spark that fired the Train — Massacre of Twenty-nine Soldiers— Spotted Tail on the War-path — General Harney to the Rescue — The Battle of Ash Holknv— Engagement as Interpreter at Kearney— Spotted Tail sent to Fort Leavenworth— Building the New Fort— An Indian Surprise- A Flight for Life— A Tarantula Incident— Trapping with Hal Gay . CONTENTS XI 171 183 195

Chapter XIII. Paoe

Dog Town — The " Robbers' Roost " — A Roving Saloon — Capture and Burning of the Shanty — Return to Dog Town — " Skinned out " — Trading for Alec Constance— A Trip to Fort Leavenworth— General Albert Sidney Johnson — A Few Words about the Mormons — The Government Expedition to Salt Lake — Engagement as Scout and Guide ........... 145

Chapter XIV

Breaking-in Mules — En route for Utah — A Startling Incident — Winter at Hams Fork — Starved out — Passage of the Rockies — Arrival at Salt Lake — Camp Floyd ........ 155

Chapter XV

The Mountain Meadow Massacre — Arrival on the Scene — Discovery of the sole Survivor — Return to Camp Floyd — Life in Dobie Town — A Disagreeable Adventure — A First White Life — Tracks for Provo City 163

Chapter XVI

Meeting with Daniel Spencer — Bull-Whacking to California — Disagreements in the Outfit — Severance from the Party — Five Hundred Miles on Foot — Scaring a Caravan— Fallen amongst the Utes — A Painted Mormon Renegade— Started agoin— Arrival at Beal River

Chapter XVII

Meeting with Billy Cameron — Return to Salt Lake City— Introduction to Joshua Alpin — Hunting for Work— Pony Express to Winty Valley — "A Narrow Squeak" — Conversion to Mormonism — Brigham Young again— Brother Nathaniel Jones — Appointment as Major-Domo .........

Chapter XVIII

Life in a Mormon Home— Sister Annie— Rebecca's Jealousy — A Sisterly " Mill"— Brother William Godby to the Rescue — Peace again — Treacherous Indications — A Denouement — A Refuge with Godby — An unlucky Incident — Pete Dotson — Farewell to Salt Lake City ..........

Chapter XIX

Nemesis, or the Destroying Angels — Enemies in the Camp — A Discovery — A Surprise — The Prisoners and their Sentence — Another Bear Story— St. Verain's Fort — A Big Drunk— Arrival at Denver PAGE 208 221 232 — A good Resolution— Tracks for Civilisation —A Passenger for Omaha — Teamstering again— Ill-luck once more — A Raving Maniac — Death of the Mule — Under Arrest — Escape — The "Waggon Boss" shot— Swimming the Platte River— Arrival at John Young's Ranch

Chapter XX

A Lucky Meeting— En route for Omaha— Tracked by the Dutchman —A Scene with the Coach— Omaha at Last— Old Farmer Keats — Arrival of the Caravan— Meeting with the "Waggon Boss" — Robbed by a " Bunkey "— Life at Keats's Ranch— Cord-wood Chopping at Florance — Teamstering to Fort Desmoines — Loading with Flour for Denver — From Teamstering to Hunting — Buckskin Jo's Gulch— A Hunt for a Job— Contracting for Venison—" Hold, enough !" — Gambling Forsaken— Return to the "Glory Hole" .

Chapter XXI

Desperadoes in Denver — "The Rocky Mountain News" — A Scene at the Denver Hall— A Resolution to quit— Ackley's Ranch — Engagement as Bar-tender and Factotum — Pining for Freedom — Cotton-wood Springs again— At Billy Hill's — First Meeting with Dan Slade— The Story of Jules Berg— A Close Shave— A Brave Britisher— Death of Billy Hill— Tracks from the Ranch

Chapter XXII

With the Brules on Cotton-wood Springs — A new Squaw — Rage — Consolation — " Hu-pa-sap-pah-wee-ah " — An Impracticable Mother-in-Law — Engagement with the Gilman Brothers — The Californian Telegraph Line — Exit " Hu-pa-sap-pah-wee-ah"— Trading with Spotted Tail and Two Buck Elk — Building Fort Macpherson — John Gilman Marries — Amongst the Cheyennes —Trading at Laramie — A Visit to the Ogallalas — "Op-an-gee-wee-ah" —Married once more — Cheyennes on the War-path — Return to Oilman's Ranch — Engagement as Scout, Guide, and Interpreter at Fort Macpherson — Carrying Despatches to Fort Hayes — A Lynching Episode — Two vears of Guerilla Warfare ..... 246

Chapter XXIII

The Treaty of 1866 — The Firstborn Halfbreed — Independent Trading — Frozen Buffalo — White Antelope again — Lone Wolf to the Rescue — Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire — Massacre of Twenty Soldiers— Captain Egan and Party saved — Back again at Macpherson — " More War" — Colonel Brown's Expedition — Duties of a Guide — Camp on the Republican — "A thousand dollars for a CONTENTS XIII PAGE 26l 298 village"— A Reconnoitre with Beldon— The Kentucky Racer- Into a Homes s Nest— Escape— Six Days and Nights' Fighting- A Driftwood Fire— Lassoing a Cavalry Horse— Return to Camp

Chapter XXIV

Mutiny in Camp— Attempt on Col. Brown's Life— A Skirmish at Medicine Creek — Return of the Expedition to Fort Macpherson General Bradley'sArrival— Scouting with his Expedition— Catching a Pony — The Result— Alarm— Danger— Victory — Row with Lieutenant Whaling— The Broached Keg— Return to Headquarters Camp — Reported to the General -jg^

Chapter XXV

Responsibilities of a Scout — Indian Cunning— Sent to the Rickaree Fork — Massacre of Col. Forsyth's Scouts — Following the Indians — Return to General Bradley — A Strange Voice — " Superstition " — No. 280 Siding — Shot through the Thigh — In Hospital — Jennie's Arrival- Married by the Reverend John Robinson — Thieving Squatters— A " Run Out " with Bill Cody— The Lost Horses- Alone on the Prairie — Rescue by Six Pals — Return to the Fort .

Chapter XXVI

Discharged from Hospital— Guarding Gilman's Ranch — Hay-making under Difficulties — Departure of the Gilmans — A Trip to Nebraska — Death of the Firstborn — Cast into Prison — General Duncan's Expedition — The Lone Squaw on the Plains — Appointed Master of Transports at Omaha — Recognised as an Indian by the Government Treaty — Eack to the Reservation — Trading Whiskey for Horses with the Cliffords and others — A Fight in Camp — Escape — Thirty-two " pass in their Chips" — Return to the Agency . . . 313

Chapter XXVII

Buffalo-Hunting for the Chicago Market with the Cliffords — Hank Clifford goes to Omaha for Whiskey— Trading with Che-wax-sah — A Difference of Opinion — Departure — A Fiendish P.evenge — The Prairie Fire — Arrival at the Rendezvous — Arrest by Order of the Commandant — Hank Clifford sent to General Augur — Release — Departure for Red Cloud Agency — Meeting with Frank Wheeling, Broncho Bill, Slim Jim, and Self-raising William — A Marauding Expedition — Following a Trail — Capture of 300 Horses — Characteristics of Companions — A Cheerful Surprise — Fighting against Odds— Frank shot in the Shoulder— Recapture of the Horses by the Enemy— Dejected Return to the Fort

Chapter XXVIII

page Squatting on Medicine Creek— Building the first Ranch— A new Speculation —Collapse of the Project—" Save us from our Friends " — Buffalo Meat for the Soldiers — Conversion of Pleasant Valley into Frontier County- -The Jack Bratt & Co. Swindle — Pulling up Stakes for Pine Ridge — Trading with the Indians on the Reservation—Differences with Dr. Seville— The J. W. Dear Trades Union —"Wanted for Illicit Trading"— The Raid on the Village — " Hunting for John Nelson " — The Deputation to General Mackenzie — A Narrow Squeak for "Three Bears'" — Peace with the General — Seville and Dear kicked off the Reservation — An Indian Famine — Rascality of Government Officials — An Intimation to clear out .......... 340

Chapter XXIX

A Trading Spec to Deadwood — Objections of "Sitting Bull" to Mining in the Black Hills — General Crook acts as Mediator — A General Exodus ordered— Establishment of the Record Office — A Winter in Sidney — Return in the Spring — The last Claim — Appointment as Chief of the Sidney Police— Notes on Outlaws — Lynching of "Fly-speckled Billy" — Advantages of Practical Law —Doc Middleton kills a Soldier — "Rushlers" and Desperadoes — A Street Fight with the Military — A Resolution to quit — Joining Clifford and Ruff on the Running Water— The Ranch Post-office — Jennie sent to Pine Ridge ......... 353

Chapter XXX

The Cheyennes on the War-path — Rejoining the Government Service — Expedition to the Sandhills — Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink — Saved by the Snake River — Frank Wheeling carries a Despatch and trudges Twenty-five Miles on Foot — Death of another Child — Erection of Pine Ridge Agency — Teaching the Indians to drive — Reprimanded for thrashing a Redskin — Mr. Agent Macgillicuddy — Appointment as Chief of Indian Police — Erecting a Telegraph Line— The Agent's Peculations — Robbery of 200,000 Dollars a Year— President Cleveland to the Rescue — A few Words on the Indians — A few more on myself — Predestination—At last a " Globe-trotter "—A List of Officers fought under

Introduction

. IN WRITING indirectly this history of my life I am prompted by no feeling of vanity, by no desire to have my name handed down to posterity as that of a man whose deeds have entitled him to this form of recogni tion. It is, in short, by no wish of my own that I now find myself in print. The day has long since passed for me when the notoriety achieved by publicity could possibly be of any benefit. I am in the sere and yellow leaf, and it does not matter to me how or where my remaining years are passed. A man stricken in years does not care to sit down and rack his brains to recall everything that has occurred thiough a long and — yes — a misspent life. Why I should have allowed myself to be bullied and cajoled into doing what I have always fought against — i.e. giving the history of my life — I am at a loss to under stand.

I frankly confess that all my good resolutions vanished before the pertinacity of the author of these pages, who has succeeded in worming out of me many incidents in my career which, in my opinion, would have been best untold. Since, however, he has learnt my secrets, and will use such of them as he thinks fit, I have but to say I vouch for the accuracy of everything I have told him. I have not drawn upon my imagination in any way, but merely stated facts, which have occurred just as I have related them. In a word, this book is a true story of my life.

Chapter I

BOYHOOD— A BOLT FOR FREEDOM— SLINGING DISHES AROUND WRECKED ON THE MISSOURI — LIFE ON A FARM— SCARED AWAY — A FRIENDLY CARAVAN— BOONVILLE — UNCLE'S RANCHE. WAS born on August 25, 1826, at Charleston, Virginia. My father and mother were both Americans, so I may claim to be of the true Southern breed. My mother's maiden name was Young, and I take my second Christian name from her. My father for many years occupied the position of overseer of the salt-works at Maiden. Maiden is about twelve miles from Charleston. A large number of negroes were slaves there, and of these he had charge. The South was the ruling power in the United B States at this time, the slave interest being predominant. My early experiences were those of niggers and picka ninnies, who were my playmates and companions. It was little thought in those days that the bugle would ever sound that would plunge the elements of brother hood into bitter strife.

Yet thirty-five years later this was the case, and, strange to say, I who was reared in a perfect hotbed of slavedom, and regarded it as one of the laws of nature, knew little or nothing at the time of the struggle that was taking place. Perhaps it was better for me I did not, for my lot would most assuredly have been thrown in with the Confederate cause, with the probable result that I should have met a soldier's death. I can carry my mind back to six years of age. I remember a small white dog I used to set at the niggers when they beat me. This was by no means an unusual occurrence when no one was looking. At length my dog— his name was " Peep," — was found one morning in a boiling salt-pan. My antipathy for niggers took root that day. It has been growing ever since. , Young as I was, I determined to have my revenge.

I took it on a nigger boy who was a trifle bigger than myself. My father had always told me never to fight with a nigger, but if I did to be sure and come out victorious. Besides bossing the salt business, my father made tubs on his own account for storing the salt, and he owned a cooperage, where he had some sixty slaves at work. FIGHT WITH A NEGRO BOY 3 About three miles from the salt-works was a coal mine. This supplied the works with fuel, run down in cars on a laid track every fifteen minutes. I took my young nigger out on the track, and started fighting him right in front of my father's cooperage. The nigger got me down, and I was getting the worst of it, when my father came out with a hickory hoop in his hand. He walked up to us, and said to me : " Didn't I tell you never to fight with a nigger unless you licked him ?

Now you've fought and got the worst of it, I'm going to give you some more." With this he started whacking me and the negro boy. We were both still fighting and clutching. One moment I would be uppermost and get the hickory, and the next it would come down on his hide. I couldn't stand getting thrashed both ways, so I grabbed a piece of iron that had been splintered off the rails, and came within my reach as I rolled over. With this I almost cut the -young nigger to pieces before my father discovered what I was up to. When he realised the position he separated us, and gave me the worst hiding I ever had. I don't believe the nigger bled half as much as I did after my father had done with me. This performance, I think, showed a pretty blood thirsty temperament for a youngster. I little thought then what after years had in store for me.

I was sent to school, but I was always larking about and playing pranks on my school-fellows, instead of B attending to my books and trying to learn anything. My mother said I was the most mischievous boy in Virginia. I believe she was right. Before I was twelve I had become the terror of the neighbourhood. My hidings about this time became frequent ; some thing unpleasant was always occurring, not through any fault of mine. There was an orchard at the back of the cooperage, fenced in with cedar posts, which were very difficult and expensive to procure. People, at some time or another, had been shooting in this orchard, and, instead of hitting anything alive, had buried their bullets in these posts. I discovered this, and, thinking lead more valuable than cedar, I chopped the posts up to get the bullets out.

I had destroyed a dozen in this way, when my father was called upon to pay for them. Of course I got a hiding. It was to be in twelve lessons, one for each post. After the third I bolted. They got hotter each time, and as I began to wonder what the twelfth would be like, I thought it better to skip before it was due. In the middle of the night I stole out of the house, and tramped up to Charleston. A friend of my father's, named Aaron Whittaker, had a store there, and to him I went and unburdened all my grievances. He took me in, and I stayed with him a month before my father found out where I was. At length he came over with a black snake whip, and, making me run in front of his horse, with a rope PA TERN A L CHA S TISEMENT 5 round my waist and fast to his saddle, tanned me all the way home.

Never shall I forget that whacking !. I was one mass of weals. I swore I would run away again, and, waiting until a favourable opportunity occurred, I availed myself of it a few months afterwards. There was no particular row this time. I had made up my mind to go, and nothing would deter me. I had often heard my father speak of his brother-in law, who lived up in the state of Missouri. His name was Thomas Atkinson, and he had married my mother's sister. I had no idea of distance, or I should probably never have undertaken the journey. I set about it by running off to an aunt, a sister of my father's, who lived about fifty miles from Maiden. This distance I did on foot, and, arriving safely, was put up comfortably. But my aunt insisted upon writing to my mother to say I was there. In about three weeks an answer came from my father, saying he was coming over to fetch me.

This was quite enough to scare me out of my wits. I had not forgotten the last time he had taken this trouble on my account. Instead of going to bed that night, I slipped out of the house, and, starting off by a circuitous route, made my way to Charleston. On the terrors of that journey I will not dilate. In each shadow I saw, or fancied I saw, the stalwart form of my father, whip in hand, ready to tan me every step of the way home again. At length I arrived, footsore and weary, feeling like a hunted dog, and not daring to show my face more than I could help. For three days I hung about the quays and warehouses, sleeping at night on bales of cotton, or secreting myself in any out-of-the-way corner where I could rest unobserved. I had a little money — enough to last me about a week — and laid it out principally in gingerbread and crackers, upon which I lived.

Fortunately, when funds were getting pretty low, I made pals with a man who was taking a " candle " coal boat down to New Orleans, and he shipped me as an odd boy, to cook, make the beds, wash up the crockery, and do anything that was useful. My new life suited me admirably. There was a feeling of independence about it that just dovetailed in with my ideas. Neither my captain nor his crew had any qualms of conscience about appropriating other people's property. We had a small boat in which we would row to the shore, and steal geese, turkeys, fowls, pigs, anything eat able we would spot as we drifted down the river. As I was small and particularly active, I was of great assist ance on these expeditions, especially in grabbing ducks and chickens, in which sport I became quite an adept Fresh vegetables we would secure at night, and be miles away in the morning before our depredations were discovered.

In due course we reached New Orleans, and I stayed WRECKED ON THE MISSOURI 7 on board the boat until our cargo was disposed of. My skipper wanted me to go back with him, but I knew better than that, and, having on the quiet found out a passenger steamboat that was going up the Mississippi to where the Missouri falls into it, I got a billet as cabin boy, and slipped on board just as she was starting. My duties were to wait upon the passengers and make myself generally useful. This I did to the complete satisfaction of the steward, and also of many of the passengers, who presented me with tips. These, added to my pay, small as it was, gave me a few dollars in hand when we arrived at our journey's end. That end came some three weeks after we left New Orleans. My next move was on to a small steam-packet which was running up the Missouri River as far as Boonville.

This time I shipped as a junior r^SS^A-"1 waiter, in which capacity I could sling dishes Oj2£§? around with the best of them. Some six or seven days after we had been out our boat struck on a sunken snag, or rock, or something, and foundered, and some twenty people were drowned. The crew took care of themselves, and never J^| thought about me. When I found I was left with a lot of screeching, yelling, cursing, and praying passengers, who were rushing madly about not knowing what to do, I just slipped overboard and struck out for the shore. The distance was about two hundred yards, but I could swim like a duck, and after drifting with the stream for some time I struck the bank and clambered out. When I looked around for the steamer, she had disappeared. Some of the saved were landed on the Illinois side of the river, and the others on the Missouri.