Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-06-27
apit anN Numur.
a STEAMBOAT YARN.

A fine western steamer, of the largest class,
was ploughing her way down stream with a
full head on. The time was early morning )
s.ie sun had not yet cooled his fiery beams in
the murky waters of the Mississippi; few OF tie
passengers were astir; and the boat, quiet
and still, save hes regular scream from her
iron throat, was making fine headway.
Suddenly the engineers bell rang out furi-
GUS and alarming summons, which, being trans
lated into the yernacular, meant,-'slow her.
The man of steam obeyed the mandate; and
with his hand upon the lever awaited anxious
" the next call.
1t soon came, and louder yet. stop her =
Some trouble ahead thought the engineer;
but hardly had the idea passed through his
mind, when the busy bell again pealed forth,
Back herI
Steam was LET off In an instant, and seiZing
the lever the man commenced working the en-
CINE by hand; but the wheel had not yet COM
pleted the first retrogade revolution, when
louder tintinnabula alton tinl1led out successive
Iy: Go ahead = SLOW herE Back her p
go aheadl' Having obeyed the command,
and supposing all was right at last, he quilted
Il
the guards to see what the trouble had been,
when suddenly the ever-buSy bell again was
heard, sSlow her
Before he could put his hands upon the
screw, the bell again ordered, stop her! i'm
mediately after, sbacf her. and 'go ahead!'
Instead of going ahead the engineer scratch
ed his own, and then applying his mouth to
the speaking tube, he addressed the pilot thus
but stop. let US turn for a moment to the pilot,
and see what was going ON in his dominions.
This gentleman had been but few minutes
at his post, and was not fairly awake when the
bell commenced its mysterious operations; but
the strange language of the steam-pipe excited
his attention, and he had arrived at the con-
clusion that something was wrong, at the same
moment that the identical idea had forced it
self upon the the engineer; SO, applying his
mouth to his end of theA<ube, the following re
marks went up and down Simultaneously:
eWItat in Thunder are yon aboHt do1cn there?
-sWHAT IN THUNDER ARE YOU ABoUrUP THERE?
Having like two vessels about commencing
an engagement, fired these shots across their
bows. the twain went Immediately into action,
as follows:
Pilot.-Who told you to stop her and
sback her2 p
Engineer.-You did what did you ring the
bell for twenty times.'
Pilot.-You must be nice fellow TO trust.
Mr.. skettles,' to get dunk before sunrise.
Call your mate and turn in.
Engineer.-Drunk, Drunk yourself; hav-
Mt had a drop, and you're just lying drunk,
that's what it is.
Pilot.-Look here, sold Kettles hold on a
BIT, and I'll be down on you like a thousand
of brick.
Engineer.-Don't trouble yourself to come
down. I'll be up to you in two shakes, and
then we'll see who is drunk and who is not.
Now this backing and filing had excited the
attention of officers and crew, and as the pilot
and engineer, having obtained relief, met half
way on the sboiler deck captain and clerk,
: mate and steward, bar-keeper and chamber
maid, all fastened to the same post of observ-
alton, and ere the two combatants could join
issue, they were seized and held, and an in
yestigation of the the affair entered into.
While all this vas in progress, neither boat
nor bell had been touched, but the same sing
ular succession of orders were going on, and the
two assistants, above and below, were medita-
ting little affair of their own when that of their
principals had been satisfactorily concluded.
The mystery was apparently past solution,
but the captain bethought him of possible
cause, and stepping to a state-room, in the
social hail. kicked the door open, and there
stood lanky young Tenneseean, who had en-
barked at Memphis the previous night, very
actively engaged in jerking at a cord that ran
through his room in the further corner.
Seizing him by the, collar the captain de-
manded, sWhat the ID are you about p
tADout?' answered the Tenneseean, swhy,
don't you see I'm ringing for my boots?'
Pulling the wrong cord, that was ALL