LETTER LI.
Major Downing and the President's narrow escape at
the breaking down of the bridge extending from Castle
Garden to the Battery at New York.
To uncle Joshua Downing, Post Master up in Downingville,
State of Maine, to be sent in the Portland Courier with care
and speed.
New York City, Friday evening, June 14, 1833.
Dear Uncle Joshua,—Here we are amongst an
ocean of folks, and cutting up capers as high as a cat's
back. I spose you will see by the papers how we all
like to got drowned yesterday going acros a little bridge
between the castle and the garden.
It was a pesky narrow squeak for me and the President.
He was riding over on a great fine hoss, and I
was walking along by the side of him and trying to
clear the way a little, for they crowded upon us so, there
was no getting along, and hardly a chance to breathe.
When we got under the arch we stopped a little bit for
the crowd to clear away, when all at once I thought I
heard something crack. Says I, Gineral you better go
ahead, I'm afraid there's mischief bruing here. At that
he give his hoss a lick and pushed through the crowd,
but we had n't got more than a rod, before crash went
the bridge behind us, all down in a heap, and two tollhouses
on top of it and as many as a hundred folks
splashed into the water, all mixed up together one top
of 'tother. The President looked over his shoulder, and
seeing I was safe behind him, called out for Mr. Van
Buren, and asked me to run and see if he was hurt. I
told him he had forgot himself, for Mr. Van Buren was
n't in the company; but Mr. Woodbury and Mr. Cass
were in for it, for I could see them floundering about in
the water now. Run, Major, said the President run and
give them a lift. Take Mr. Woodbury first, you know I
can't spare him at any rate.
So there was a parcel of us took hold and went to
hauling of 'em out of the water like so many drowned
rats. But we got 'em all out alive, except a few young
things they called dandies; they looked so after they
got wet all over that we could n't make out whether they
were alive or dead. So we laid 'em up to dry and left
'em; and I went on to help the President review the
troops on the battery, as they call it; and a grand place
it is tu. I 've seen more fine shows here, it seems to me,
than ever I see before in my life. Such a sight of folks,
and fine ladies, and fine houses, and vessels, and steam-boats,
and flags a flying, and cannons firing, and fire
works a whisking about, I never see the beat of it. I
did n't think there was so much fun in this world before,
for all I've been about so much at Madawaska and among
the nullifiers and all round.
But I cant tell you much about it till we get there, for
I cant find any time to write. I've only cheated a few
minutes this evening while the President is gone into
Mr. Niblo's garden. One of the master sights that I've
seen yet was that baloon that went up this afternoon,
carrying a man with it. Poor fellow, I dont much think
he 'll ever get back again, for he looked to me the last I
see of him as though he would land in England, or the
moon, or some other country.
All these sights keep us back a little longer than we
expected. I dont think now we shall be in Portland
before the 28th or 29th of this month. So I thought I'd
jest write you a line that you might be down there about
that time.
In haste your loving neffu,
MAJOR JACK DOWNING
