For many years I almost lived on board the packets. I felt more
at home on any of the Mississippi steamboats than I did on land in
any city or town in the United States. I had friends wherever I
went, and I knew every officer and many of the crew on nearly every
boat that ran the river. While on water, I did not fear any man
or set of men; but there were localities on land along the Mississippi
River that no man could hold his own with the rough element that
lived around them. So I always gave such places a wide berth.
Helena and Napoleon, Ark., were two towns where it was not safe
for any man to do the bluff act, for they would kill him just to
see him kick. I won some money from one of Helena's killers at
one time on board a steamer, and he set up a big kick; but as he
was alone, he was like all men of his class--a coward. I well knew
that if he caught me on his ground I would get the worst of it, so
I resolved never to give him a chance; but one evening I was
compelled to get off at Helena, as things had gotten a little too
warm for me on board the boat, and I thought I would run the risk
of the killers rather than give up the money I had won at that
time. I went up to the hotel to get my supper and wait for another
boat, and one of the first men I met was the fellow I had beaten
out of his money. I knew there would be trouble, so I put Betsy
Jane in a handy place, resolving to use her for what she was worth
if the killers got after me. I did not leave the hotel until the
boat arrived; and just about the time I was starting out, the clerk
told me that some of the gamblers had beaten one of the worst men
in the country on a boat, and he was down at the landing with a
crowd of his roughs, waiting to do him up.
There was a lot of persons waiting for the same boat, among them
some gamblers. I told the clerk to send for a carriage, and I
would not go down until just as the boat was about to leave. All
the others left the hotel and started for the landing before the
boat came in. The killers jumped on the poor gamblers, supposing
of course that I was among them. They beat them up fearfully, and
came near killing one of them. During the excitement I was driven
to the plank and jumped out, and was on board before any one
recognized me. When the killers learned that I had given them the
slip, they were determined to board the boat and get me; but the
mate got his crew on the guards and would not let any of them on
board. The boat backed out at once, and I was again at home among
my friends; and you can bet I was glad of it, for I think that was
one of my close calls.