The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-07-27

Pulling the Wrong Bell.
have heard story of pulling, which, as
many of my readers may be ignorant Of, and
az it is worthy of telling, also being myself
in gossiping mood, will even out with it.
A fine western steamer, of the largest
class, was blowing her way down stream with
''flll head" on.
The time " as early morning; the sun had
not yet cooled His fiery BEAMS Ia the murky
waters of the Misss5ippij few of the passen-
gers were astir; and the boat, quiet and still,
save the regular scream from her iron thtoat;
was making fine Roadway.
/ Suddenly the engineers bells rang out
furious and alarming sumrtions, which, being
translated into the vernacularj meant--"Slow
her!"
The man at the steam obeyed the man:
date, and with his hand upon the lever,
awaited anxiously the next call. -,
1t soon came; and louder yet, "Stop her!"
siSome trouble ahead" thought the en-
gineer; but hardly had the idea passed
through his mind when the busy bell again
pealed FORTH
"Back her!'
Steam was let On In an instant, and seiz-
ing the lever, the man commenced working
the engine by hand; but the wheel had not
yet completed the first retrrgade revolution,
when loudet tint inabulaton tinkled out
successfully
$50 ahead!"
"Slow her!"
"Back her!'
$50 ahead!"
Having obeyed the command, and stppos-
ing all was right at last, the man quilted his
post for a moment and stepped out upon the
guards to see what the trouble had be"n,
when suddenly the over-busy bell again was
heard
"Slow her!"
Before he could put his hands upon the
screw, the bell again ordered,
"Stop her!"-imme dia;eIy after, "Back
her!" and go ahead!,'
Instead of going ahead, the engineer
scratched his own, and then applying his
mouth to the speaking tube, addressed the
pilot thus-but stop, let US turn for moment
to the pilot, and see what was going on in
his dominions.
This gentleman had been but few mo-
mehts at his post, and was not fairly awake
when the bell commenced its my sterious oper-
aIions; but sleepy as he was, the queer an.
tics of the boat, and the strange language OF
the steam pipe, excited his attention, and he
had arrived az the conclusion that some
thing was wrong, at the Same moment that
identical idea had forced itself upon the en-
gineer; SO, applying his mouth to his end of
the tube, the following remarks went up and
down simultaneously:
"What in thunder are you sabout up
there!''
"What in thunder are you about down
there!"
Having, like two vessels about to COM
| mence an engagement; fred these shots
across their bows, the twain went into action
as follows!
pilot--Who told yOti to "stop her" and
"back herI''
Engineer-You did; what did you ring the
bell for twenty times!
PiIot-You must be nice fellow to trust.
DIR. Kettles" to get drunk before sunrise.
Call your mate aud turn in.
Engineer Drunk, drunk yoursetf-havn't
had a drop-and you're just lying drunk
that's what it is.
Pilot-Look here, "old Kettles" hold ON a
bit, and I'll be down on you like thousand
of brick.
Eugineer-Don't trouble yourself to come
down. I'll be up to you in two shakes, and
then we'll see who's drunk, and who is not.
Now this backing and filing had excited
the attention of officers and crew, and as tn
pilot and engineer. having obtained relief.
met halfway down on the "boilerdeck,'' cap
tain and clerk, mate and steward, barkeeper
and chambermaid, all fastened to the post
of observation, and ere the two combatants
could join issue, they were seized and held,
and an investigation of the affair was entered
into.
i While all this was In progress, neither
boat nor bell had been touched, but the
same singular succession of orders was GO
ling on, and the two assistants, above and be-
low, were meditating little affair of their
own, when that of their principals had been
settled.
The mystery was apparently past solution,
but the captain bethought him of possible
cause, and stepping to state-room, in the
"social hall" kicked the door open, and there
stood lanky young Tennesseean who had
embarked at Memphis the previous night
very actively jerking at a cord that ran
through his room in the further corner
i Seizing him BY the collar, the captain de-
manded, "what are you about?"
i "About!" answered the Tennesseean
"why, don't you see Pm ringing for my
boots!'
i Pulling the wrong cord, that was all.
i SNAKE SToRY-ExrRAoRDINAR CASE OF
FAsCINArIoN.-About two weeks since, q
i -