A NEW EXPERIENCE.
The next day about noon I came to my senses. I found myself all alone in
a nice little room on a soft bed. I tried to get up but it was useless;
my back felt as if it was broken. I couldn't think what had happened to
me. But finally the door opened and in stepped a doctor, who explained
the whole matter. He said the captain, just as the boat was fixing to
pull out, was walking through the passage way when he heard my groans
down in the hold and getting a lantern, ladder and help, fished me out
almost lifeless. I was in the captain's private room and having the best
of care. The back of my head was swollen out of shape, it having struck
on one of the cross timbers, while my back landed across another. The
doctor said I owed my life to the captain for finding me, "for," said
he, "if you had remained in there twenty minutes longer your case would
have been hopeless."
At last we arrived in Memphis, Tenn. We had been traveling very slowly
on account of having to stop at all the small landings and unload
freight or take on more.
After landing at Memphis I took a notion that a little walk would help
my lame back, so I struck out along the river bank, very slowly.
During my walk I came across a drove of small snipe, and having my
pistol with me, I shot at them. The pistol report attracted the
attention of two boys who were standing not far off. They came over to
me, and one of them, the oldest, who was on crutches, having only one
leg, asked how much I would take for my "shooter?" I told him I would
take ten dollars for it, as I was in need of money. He examined it
carefully and then said: "It's a trade buddy, but you will have to go up
to that little house yonder, to get the money, as I havn't got that much
with me."
The house he pointed out stood off by itself to the right of the town,
which was situated about a mile from the river. The house in question
being half a mile off, I told him that I was too weak to walk that far,
on account of my back being out of whack. "Well," said he, "you go with
us as far as that big sand hill yonder," pointing to a large red sand
hill a few hundred yards from where we stood, "and my chum here, who has
got two good legs, will run on and get the money while we wait."
I agreed, not suspecting anything wrong and when behind the sand hill,
out of sight of the steamboat landing, Mr. one-leg threw down on me with
my own "shooter" and ordered me to throw up my hands. I obeyed and held
mighty still while the other young ruffian went through my pockets. They
walked off with everything I had in my pockets, even took my valise key.
I felt considerably relieved, I can assure you, when the cocked revolver
was taken down from within a few inches of my nose. I was in dread for
fear his trembling finger might accidently touch the trigger.
As soon as I was released I went right back to the landing and notified
a policeman who struck out after them. But whether he caught them or not
I never knew, as the "Bart Able" steamed down the river shortly
afterwards.
The same evening after arriving in New Orleans the "Bart Able" pulled
back, for Saint Louis, leaving me there flat broke and among strangers.
I looked terribly blue late that evening as I walked up and down the
crowded levee studying what to do. I had already been to the Morgan
steamship landing and begged for a chance to work my way to Texas, but
met with poor success. I could not hire out even if I had applied and
got a job, for my back was still stiff, so much so that I couldn't stoop
down without terrible pain.
That night I laid down under an old tarpaulin which was spread over a
lot of sugar.
After getting up and shaking the dust off next morning, I went down the
river about a mile where scores of small boats were being unloaded.
Among them were several boat loads of oranges, bananas, etc., which were
being unloaded. In carrying the bananas on shore the over ripe ones
would drop off. On those I made my breakfast, but I wished a thousand
times before night that I had not eaten them, for Oh Lord, how my head
did ache!
That night I went to sleep on a pile of cotton bales--that is I tried to
sleep, but my headache was terrible, I could get but little repose.
The next morning I found there was a Morgan steamship in from Texas, and
I struck out to interview the captain in regard to a free ride to
Texas. But the old pot-bellied sinner wouldn't talk to me.
In the afternoon I began to grow weak from hunger and my back ached
badly. I sat down on an old stove at the foot of Canal street and never
moved for three long hours.
Finally a well dressed old man about fifty years of age, with an
umbrella over his head, came out of Couens' office, a small building a
short distance from where I sat, and walking up to me said, in a gruff
voice, "young man what are you sitting out here in the sun for, so
upright and stiff, as if nailed to that old stove?"
I told him I was compelled to sit upright on account of a lame back. In
fact I laid my case before him in full. He then said in a much more
pleasant voice: "My boy I'm going to make you an offer, and you can take
it or let it alone--just as you like. I will give you four dollars a
month to help my wife around the house and at the end of four months
will give you a free pass to Texas. You see I am agent for Couens' Red
River line of boats and, therefore, can get a pass cheap."
I accepted his offer at once and thanked him with all my heart for his
kindness. Being on his way home, we boarded a Canal street car. It was
then almost sundown.
About a half hour's ride brought us within half a block of our
destination.
Walking up a pair of nicely finished steps at No. 18 Derbigny street, he
rang a bell. A negro servant whom he called "Ann," answered the call.
Everything sparkled within, for the house was furnished in grand style.
The old gentleman introduced me to his wife as a little Texas hoosier
that had strayed off from home and was about to starve.
After supper "Miss Mary," as the servants called Mrs. Myers and as I
afterwards called her showed me to the bath house and told me to give
myself an extraordinary good scrubbing.
I do not know as this improved my looks any, as I hadn't any clean
clothes to put on, my valise having been stolen during my illness coming
down the river.
The next day Miss Mary took me to a clothing house and fitted me out in
fine style. I admired all but the narrow brimmed hat and peaked toed
gaiters. I wanted a broad brimmed hat and star top boots, but she said I
would look too much like a hoosier with them on.
That evening I got a black eye. After Mr. Myers came home from his work
about four o'clock, we all went out on the front steps to breathe the
fresh air. There being a crowd of boys playing at the corner I asked Mr.
and Mrs. Myers if I could go over and watch them awhile. Both consented,
but told me not to stay long as they didn't want me to get into the
habit of mixing with the street loafers.
On arriving there all eyes were turned towards me. One fellow yelled
out, "Hello dandy, when did you arrive!" and another one remarked, "He
is a stiff cuss--aint he?"
I concluded there was nothing to be seen and turned back; just as I
turned around a yellow negro boy slipped up behind me and pulled my
hair. The white boys had put him up to it, no doubt.
I jumped aboard of him quicker than a flash and forgot all about my sore
back. It was nip and tuck for awhile--we both being about the same size,
but I finally got him down and blooded his nose in good shape. As I went
to get up he kicked me over one eye with his heavy boot. Hence the black
eye, which was swollen up in a few minutes to an enormous size.
I expected to get a scolding from Mr. and Mrs. Myers, but they both
gloried in my spunk for taking my own part. They had witnessed the whole
thing.
Somehow or another that fight took the kink out of my back for from that
time on it began to get well. I am bothered with it though, to this day,
when I take cold or do a hard day's work.