General Sherman made the presentation speech.
From St. Louis he went to New Orleans where he decided to feel the
waters in the stronger currents of the lower river. He concluded to take
a run of a hundred miles and gave himself twenty-four hours in which to
make the voyage. Several members of the press intended to accompany him
on the trip and a row boat was procured for their accommodation. This
boat was placed on board the steamer Bismarck that was bound to St.
Louis. It was arranged with the Captain to drop them off at Bayou Goula
exactly a hundred miles above. As the steamer, to get ahead of an
opposition boat, started an hour before the advertised time, all the
newspaper reporters except one, were left behind. At six o'clock the
next morning, Paul and the reporter were landed on the levee at a
miserable looking little Louisiana village. They breakfasted at the
solitary hotel; after which they made enquiries in regard to a pilot.
All agreed that a colored man named Gabriel was the best. They sauntered
forth on the levee to hunt up Gabriel. They were followed by a large
crowd of negroes, young and old who had heard about the wonderful man-
fish. Paul was informed that Gabriel was out in the river catching
driftwood, and the entire colored population appeared to join in yelling
for "Gabe" to come ashore.
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