The deck-hands of the steamer _Niagara_ had been drinking, and some
of them were a little drunk. They came up to get more of the
fighting stuff, and got into some difficulty with the barkeeper.
I was sitting near the bar at the time; and as I was always ready
to do my friends a favor, I went out on the guards and tried to
stop the fuss, and get the men to go down on deck. One big fellow,
who was the fighting man of the crew and a favorite with the mate,
thought it was none of my business, and the first thing I knew he
cut loose at me. I saw it in time to get up my guard. I did not
want to have any difficulty on a boat with any of the officers or
crew, so I tried to quiet the fellow down; but he would not have
it, but came at me again. I could not avoid it, as he was too
drunk to have any sense; so I let fly, caught him under the chin,
and brought him down. He was a game one, for he was up and at me
once more. I then let into him and gave him a pretty good licking.
They took him down on deck, and it was not long until Tom Hawthorn,
the mate, came up and asked who it was that had whipped one of his
men. The barkeeper told him about all the fuss; but he was mad,
and would not excuse any man for defending himself against one of
his men. I was in the barber shop at the time, but the barkeeper
sent me word to look out for Tom. I went and got my old friend
(Betsy Jane), and waited for the fray. I was in the hall when Tom
came up looking for me. He walked up and said, "Can't you find
any one else to whip, without jumping on one of my men?" I knew
he had been told the circumstance, and if he had any sense he would
not blame me; but he was mad; and then he intended to teach me a
lesson. I knew he would not listen to reason, so I said, "I gave
that fellow just what he deserved." He began to pull of his coat,
and at the same time said, "Any man that licks one of my men has
got to lick me." I saw I had to fight, so I off with my coat and
waited for him. He struck out, but I caught it on my arm. I did
not want to use my head unless it was necessary; but as he was a
tall man with a long reach, he had the advantage. So I watched my
chance, then ran in, caught him around the waist, and downed him.
It was hard work to keep the old head from taking a hand, but I
gave him several good ones on his face and neck. He tried to rise
up, when I got in an upper cut which settled him. I let him up,
and he went down on deck. He had it in for me, until one night in
a saloon, when he hit a man; the fellow got the drop, and would
have shot him if I had not taken a hand. After that we were good
friends, and he would say to me, "George, you are the only man that
can whip my deck-hands."