Having now closed my hunting for that winter, I returned to my hands,
who were engaged about my boats and staves, and made ready for a trip
down the river. I had two boats and about thirty thousand staves, and so
I loaded with them, and set out for New Orleans. I got out of the Obion
river, in which I had loaded my boats, very well; but when I got into
the Mississippi, I found all my hands were bad scared, and in fact I
believe I was scared a little the worst of any; for I had never been
down the river, and I soon discovered that my pilot was as ignorant of
the business as myself. I hadn't gone far before I determined to lash
the two boats together; we did so, but it made them so heavy and
obstinate, that it was next akin to impossible to do any thing at all
with them, or to guide them right in the river.
That evening we fell in company with some Ohio boats; and about night we
tried to land, but we could not. The Ohio men hollered to us to go on
and run all night. We took their advice, though we had a good deal
rather not; but we couldn't do any other way. In a short distance we got
into what is called the "_Devil's Elbow_;" and if any place in the wide
creation has its own proper name, I thought it was this. Here we had
about the hardest work that I ever was engaged in, in my life, to keep
out of danger; and even then we were in it all the while. We twice
attempted to land at Wood-yards, which we could see, but couldn't reach.
The people would run out with lights, and try to instruct us how to get
to shore; but all in vain. Our boats were so heavy that we couldn't take
them much any way, except the way they wanted to go, and just the way
the current would carry them. At last we quit trying to land, and
concluded just to go ahead as well as we could, for we found we couldn't
do any better. Some time in the night I was down in the cabin of one of
the boats, sitting by the fire, thinking on what a hobble we had got
into; and how much better bear-hunting was on hard land, than floating
along on the water, when a fellow had to go ahead whether he was exactly
willing or not.
The hatchway into the cabin came slap down, right through the top of the
boat; and it was the only way out except a small hole in the side,
which we had used for putting our arms through to dip up water before we
lashed the boats together.
We were now floating sideways, and the boat I was in was the hindmost as
we went. All at once I heard the hands begin to run over the top of the
boat in great confusion, and pull with all their might; and the first
thing I know'd after this we went broadside full tilt against the head
of an island where a large raft of drift timber had lodged. The nature
of such a place would be, as every body knows, to suck the boats down,
and turn them right under this raft; and the uppermost boat would, of
course, be suck'd down and go under first. As soon as we struck, I
bulged for my hatchway, as the boat was turning under sure enough. But
when I got to it, the water was pouring thro' in a current as large as
the hole would let it, and as strong as the weight of the river could
force it. I found I couldn't get out here, for the boat was now turned
down in such a way, that it was steeper than a house-top. I now thought
of the hole in the side, and made my way in a hurry for that. With
difficulty I got to it, and when I got there, I found it was too small
for me to get out by my own dower, and I began to think that I was in a
worse box than ever. But I put my arms through and hollered as loud as I
could roar, as the boat I was in hadn't yet quite filled with water up
to my head, and the hands who were next to the raft, seeing my arms out,
and hearing me holler, seized them, and began to pull. I told them I was
sinking, and to pull my arms off, or force me through, for now I know'd
well enough it was neck or nothing, come out or sink.
By a violent effort they jerked me through; but I was in a pretty pickle
when I got through. I had been sitting without any clothing over my
shirt: this was torn off, and I was literally skin'd like a rabbit. I
was, however, well pleased to get out in any way, even without shirt or
hide; as before I could straighten myself on the boat next to the raft,
the one they pull'd me out of went entirely under, and I have never seen
it any more to this day. We all escaped on to the raft, where we were
compelled to sit all night, about a mile from land on either side. Four
of my company were bareheaded, and three bare-footed; and of that number
I was one. I reckon I looked like a pretty cracklin ever to get to
Congress!!!
We had now lost all our loading; and every particle of our clothing,
except what little we had on; but over all this, while I was setting
there, in the night, floating about on the drift, I felt happier and
better off than I ever had in my life before, for I had just made such a
marvellous escape, that I had forgot almost every thing else in that;
and so I felt prime.
In the morning about sunrise, we saw a boat coming down, and we hailed
her. They sent a large skiff, and took us all on board, and carried us
down as far as Memphis. Here I met with a friend, that I never can
forget as long as I am able to go ahead at any thing; it was a Major
Winchester, a merchant of that place: he let us all have hats, and
shoes, and some little money to go upon, and so we all parted.
A young man and myself concluded to go on down to Natchez, to see if we
could hear any thing of our boats; for we supposed they would float out
from the raft, and keep on down the river. We got on a boat at Memphis,
that was going down, and so cut out. Our largest boat, we were informed,
had been seen about fifty miles below where we stove, and an attempt had
been made to land her, but without success, as she was as hard-headed as
ever.
This was the last of my boats, and of my boating; for it went so badly
with me, along at the first, that I hadn't much mind to try it any more.
I now returned home again, and as the next August was the Congressional
election, I began to turn my attention a little to that matter, as it
was beginning to be talked of a good deal among the people.