The Harry Watkins Diary, Volume 11 [July 22, 1853–June 12, 1854]

14 November 1853

Mond. (Monday) 14 th . Pleasant—Boat reached Cincinnatti [sic Cincinnati] at 3. A.M. in two hours after I heard a loud rapping at my state room [sic stateroom] door—suspecting the object I paid no attention to the summons, but turned over removeon the other side and made preparations for another nap, which I had hardly entered upon when the raps were repeated with a vigorous increase of force—Opened the door, without leavin…illegibleg my berth—saw a colored individual standing in the entrance armed with a broom—asked what he wanted—as though the broom was not hint enough—removetreatedanswered that he had "cum to make up de' bed and clar' out de room"—swore if he didn't "clar'" [sic "clar'] himself out"—I'd make him darker than nature had done—and slamming the door shut—locked it and again essayed to sleep—this time successfully—At the end of an hour awoke naturally—dressed myself and removewent started to go into the cabin when lo! and behold! that same "cullud pusson" was seated in front of

the door with removethe his bremove…sliproom between his legs and fast asleep In a spirit of retaliation, I determined to revenge myself upon the scoundrel who sought to rob me of removemy theexpand_less repose that I had paid for, and so, seizing him by the collar—gave him a violent shake to his corpus and peremptorialy demanded what he was doing there—He started up, andexpand_less without removeseeing looking to seeexpand_less who the shaker was, commenced rapping on the door again, and shouted, "is you up yet"—"de boat's dar"—Poor devil! he thought the steward had caught him removeno sleeping on his post. The ha! ha's! of myself, and two or three standersby, who had witnessed the incident, apprised him of the true state of affairs, and he looked as black-sheepish as possible—I mentally forgave him for the wrong he had done, and hastened on shorremovete to hunt up a stopping place—offered very good accomodations [sic accommodations] at the Merchants hotel at $6,00 per week—concluded it was as well as could be done, considering the high price of board—so had my baggage brought to the house—Cleaned up, and went to rehearsal. A.M.—took a walk about town P.M—at Theatre 7 P.M. played Don Cesar De Bazan better than ever I did before—and seemed to make a very favorable impression