182 "
Lieutenant-Colonel Humphreys 221 "

One might think that the scales used were the property of a dishonest
grocer were it not for the proportion between Colonel Swift, say, and
General Greaton. Or, perhaps, these officers were weighed in heavy
accouterments. Certainly it is hard to think of most of them as traveling
on horseback about country at the head of small forces whose chief
resource was mobility.

HOW THE LUCY WALKER WAS BLOWN TO PIECES.

CREW FED THE FLAMES WITH FAT.

Steamboats Racing on the Mississippi
Before the Civil War Provided Strenuous
Experiences for All on Board.

Joe Vann, Cherokee Indian, who lived many years ago near Fort Gibson,
Indian Territory, possessed five hundred slaves and thousands of acres of
land. Some of his horses were fine racing stock, and he owned the Lucy
Walker, the fastest steamboat on the Arkansas River. Vann was good to his
slaves--open-hearted, generous; but he was an inveterate gambler. He lost
and won large sums at horse-racing, and, indeed, he would not take a dare.
The Fort Gibson _Post_ recalls as follows the tragic circumstances of this
remarkable Cherokee's end:

While his steamboat had no rival for speed on the Arkansas
River, from its mouth at the Mississippi to Little Rock and
Fort Gibson, there were two or three rivals on the
Mississippi River, between St. Louis and New Orleans. One of
these boats, said to be the fastest on the river, attempted
to pass the Lucy Walker one day on the way down.

Vann had a crew of thirty negroes, said to have no superiors
on the river. He told the boys that the Lucy Walker must be
kept ahead, no matter at what cost. An allowance of grog was
given to each, and all promised to stand up to the work.

The rival boat was gaining on them; the usual fuel failed to
give sufficient speed. Vann went around and told the hands
to gather up everything that would burn. Tar and bacon were
thrown into the furnace, and soon the Lucy Walker was
forging ahead of her rival.

Timbers of the boat creaked and groaned; the furnace was red
hot; the boilers were seething and foaming; the heat was
terrific. The passengers, of whom there were about one
hundred and fifty, became alarmed; but Vann was cool as a
cucumber. He told his negro crew that they would beat the
rival boat or all go to Hades together, and they promised to
stand by