De Las' Sack!' - Inspired To Unimaginable
Exaltation By The Chaos Of Turmoil And Racket That Was Driving Everybody
Else Mad.
By this time the hurricane and boiler decks of the steamers
would be packed and black with passengers.
The 'last bells' would begin
to clang, all down the line, and then the powwow seemed to double; in a
moment or two the final warning came, - a simultaneous din of Chinese
gongs, with the cry, 'All dat ain't goin', please to git asho'!' - and
behold, the powwow quadrupled! People came swarming ashore, overturning
excited stragglers that were trying to swarm aboard. One more moment
later a long array of stage-planks was being hauled in, each with its
customary latest passenger clinging to the end of it with teeth, nails,
and everything else, and the customary latest procrastinator making a
wild spring shoreward over his head.
Now a number of the boats slide backward into the stream, leaving wide
gaps in the serried rank of steamers. Citizens crowd the decks of boats
that are not to go, in order to see the sight. Steamer after steamer
straightens herself up, gathers all her strength, and presently comes
swinging by, under a tremendous head of steam, with flag flying, black
smoke rolling, and her entire crew of firemen and deck-hands (usually
swarthy negroes) massed together on the forecastle, the best 'voice' in
the lot towering from the midst (being mounted on the capstan), waving
his hat or a flag, and all roaring a mighty chorus, while the parting
cannons boom and the multitudinous spectators swing their hats and
huzza!
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