The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 3, July 1899 - April, 1900 Page: 6

Texas Historical Association Quarterly.

due time I found my brother, with whom I lived for three years.
Finally I took a place on the steamer "Natchez" as clerk.
When I left the store of my brother I left my Dutch iron-bound
trunk containing the instruments in the attic of the store, where
they remained undisturbed, except in one instance, during my
absence. They were on one occasion lent to a surveyor who was a
friend of my brother's, and who offered me nearly double the worth
of them. I peremptorily refused. He and my brother asked me
why I did not sell them; saying they were of no service to me. I
said I could not give any substantial reason, but something told
me that they had not fulfilled their mission.
Some time early in 1821, I became clerk of the new steamer
"Natchez," Captain Buckner, single engine, as all boats were then
built. We were lying at the wharf at Natchez, and had just fin-
ished the evening previous discharging her up freight. We had,
when I first went on the Natchez a mate, every way a good one,
except that he would get drunk at times. He and the Captain
came to loggerheads in New Orleans, which caused his dismissal,
and I was instructed to hunt up some one to fill his place. I had
spent several trips on a fishing excursion across the lake with a
Lieutenant Butler and his companions McDonald and "Jimmy."
They had served together on the Lakes with Commodore Perry.
They were then on some other boat. I became much attached to
Lieutenant Butler and it struck me to give him the berth, so I
hunted him up and employed him and Jimmy to go on the Natchez.
I had a few weeks previous sent for my box and trunk to be left
with Crane & Hudson, then doing a large grocer's business at
Bayou Sara. Coming up this trip, I received on board the trunk
and box and set them out of the way in the cabin. In the early
morning, not being troubled with any passengers on board, I con-
cluded to overhaul my trunk and instruments. I had for the sake
of light got near the door and had opened my box and filled a chair
or two with the compass and other things connected with it. I was
so intent on examining them that I had not observed the near ap-
proach of three gentlemen. The door on the opposite side of the
entrance to the cabin was closed. One of the gentlemen asked if
the Captain was on board. I replied that he had spent the night up
in town. He said he wished to go to New Orleans and asked at
what time the boat would leave. These inquiries were answered.
Then they asked if they could see the clerk. I replied that I filled