Cjrapttr CJririr, 
FIRST ATTEMPT AT BOAT BUILDING—EXCITEMENT “ ON ’CHANGE”—A LAUNCH AND CLEAR¬ 
ANCE—THE CREW—A MUTINY—QUELLED—POOR ACCOMMODATIONS—A NIGHT IN ANGER— 
AN ANTHEM TO THE SUN—NATURE IN FULL DRESS. 
We saw but one alternative, which was, to construct a boat 
ourselves, and work it up the river. Upon this we decided, and 
purchasing the temporary berths of our vessel, soon had a boat 
on the stocks, 6 feet by 19, and in three days it was afloat at 
the side of the u Marietta,” receiving its freight. We called-it 
the “Minerva” and she was probably the first American-bottom 
ever launched at this port. A misfortune here befel me which 
I will relate somewhat minutely, as it was undoubtedly the 
cause of the death of a party concerned. In going out one 
morning to assist in the construction of the boat, I left my vest, 
which had a sum of money sewed up in the upper side pocket, 
in my berth, covered in such a manner I thought no one could 
discover it. I did not give it a thought during the day, but on 
going to my berth in the evening, I noticed the covering had 
been disturbed, and as my room-mates were in the habit of 
helping themselves to prunes, from a box in my berth, I imag¬ 
ined they had discovered and taken care of it. I was the more 
strongly impressed that this was the case from the fact that they 
had frequently spoken of my carelessness. I immediately saw 
them; they had seen nothing of it. Watches were stationed and 
the ship searched, but no trace of the money. A person who 
had had access to the cabin on that day for the first time was 
strongly suspected, but no trace of the money found. Our sus¬ 
picions, however, were well founded, as the sequel will show. 
The passengers very kindly offered to make up a part of the 
loss, but as I had a little left I most respectfully declined its ac¬ 
ceptance. We had about 3000 lbs. of freight and nine persons, 
