The Georgetown news., 1855-09-27
NO. so.
Pulling the Wrong BcIi.

| have heard story OF pulling, which. as
many of my readers may be ignorant of,
and as it is worthy Of telling, also being
myself in gossiping mood, VIII even out
with it.
a fine western steamer of the largest
class, was plowing her way down stream
with ''full head" on.
The time was early morning; the sun had
not yet cooled his fiery beams in the murky
waters of the Mississippi; few of the passen-
gers were astir; and the boat quiet and still,
save the regular scream from her iron throat,
was making fine headway.
Suddenly the engineers bell rang out
furious and alarming summons, which, be-
ing translated into the Yernacular, 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 vet stop herr
some trouble ahead thought the engi-
neer; but hardly had the idea passed through
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 retrograde rerolu-
ton; when a louder naturalization finlled
ont successively-
go ahead p.
"Slow herr
Back her y
"Go ahead !"
Having obeyed the command. and. sun.
posing 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 been,
when suddenly the over-busy bell again was
heard
"Slow herp'
Before he could put his hands upon the
screw, the bell again ordered, Stop her y
Immediately 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 a mo-
ment to the pilot, and see what was going
on in his dominions.
This gentleman had been but few mo-
moments at his post, and was not fairly
awake when the bell commenced its myste-
rious operations, but sleepy as he was, the
queer antics of the boat, and the strange
language OF the steam pipe, excited his at
tentlon, and he had arrived at the conclusion
that something was wrong, at the same mo-
ment that identical idea had forced itself
upon the engineer; so, applying his mouth
to his end Of the tube, the following re-
marks weut up and down simultaneously:
"What in thunder are you about ND
there?"
"What in thunder are you about down
there?"
Having, ike two vessels about conmen-
cling an engagement, fred these shots across
their bows, the twain went immediately in
to action as follows
Pilot-Who told you to "stop her" and
"bac5 herr"
Engineer-Y ou did; what did you ring
the bell for twenty times?
Pilet--Y on must be nice fellow to trust,
MIR. "kettles," ," to get drunk before sunrise.
Call your mate and turn in
Engineer-Drunk; drunk youself-I hav-
en't had drop-and you're just lying
drunk-thats what it is.
Pilot-Look here, "old Kettles" hold on
bit. and I'll be down on you like thou
sand o.. brick.
Engineer-Don't trouble yourselfto come
down. III be up to you in two shakes, and
then we'll see who's drunk and who is not
Now this backing and filling had excited
the attention of officers and crew, and as
the pilot and engineer having obtained re-
lief, met halfway down on the 'bOiler-deck,
captain and clerk. mate and steward bar
keeper and chamber maid, all FASTENED to
the post of observation, and ere the two
combatants could join issue, they were seiz-
ed and held, and an investigation of the af-
fair was entered into.
While all this was in progress, neither
boat nor bell had been touched, but the
same singular succession Of orders was PC
ing on, and the two assistants, above and
below, were meditating a little affair of
their own, when that Of their principals had
been satisfactorily concluded.
The mystery was apparently past soIu-
ton, but the captain bethought him of a
possible cause, and stepping to astate-room
in the "social hall, kicked the door omen.
and there stood a lanky young Tennesseean
who had embarked at Memphis the nreJf.
Gus night, very actively jerking at a cord
that ran through his room in the further
corner.
Selling him by the collar, the captain de-
manded, what are you about?"
"a bout?" answered the young Tennessee
an, why, don't you see I'm ringing for my
boots?"
Pulling the wrong cord that was ALL
s@% Punch says, that although ever so