New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-08-09
Fox r mud INC BeIIs.


Fox F., knownto everybody in this part of the
country is more-alter lifes ftfuI fever he sleeps
we'll" He was the very soul Of humor, and numerous
are the funny stories current told either by him or
Of him. On this occasion, we will give one of the
best of them.
In his younger days, Fox was a steamboat engin-
eer, and at one time had the head berth on one Of
the fastest crack packets that ever padded between
the Crescent and Mound Cities. The captain of this
boat had an active mind and was always studying out
bitches and lodges by which to save time and keep
up his reputation for quick trips. An idea that he
succeeded in Matching out at one time, was an i'm
proved method of communication between the pilot
and engineer, The time honored plac OF having two
bells to the engine, one for starting and stopping and
the other for backing, entirely too slow for him.
or rather too incomplete. So he had whole lot of
bells, of different tones, with piOthouse connections
hung up over the engine and he explained them at
due length to Fox.
The big bell was for starting and stopping; this
bell was for crowding steam; that for Stacking
steam that other, for backing slow this one here
for backing fast, etc, etc. After much tangling of
the bells and explanation of this kind the captain
left Fox alone in his glory Fox had received the in
structons quietly and grimy and if he had any diff
fdence as to his capabilty Of following the bells cor
rectly he never betrayed it to any one.
The evening of departure soon came, and steam
was raised. Fox was at his post, with very serious
face and the captain was in the pothoase for the
express purpose OF giving Fox his first exercise with
the bells. The last plank was hauled in, and cling
atng, ling, ling y went one of the back bells Fox
sprang at the souud-the wheels gave big backward
pul-thc adjoining boats, between which the depart
ing one was tightly jammed, cracked, groaned, and
spanged, under the tremendous friction.
"Tingaling, ling!" went another bell. Fox
quickly obeyed the order, but before getting through,
another bell rang. He was now thoroughly engaged,
grinding and ungrnding the crank and jerking and
banging the levers and he went ahead, the bells
Of different sounds kept On their jangng in the most
terrible confusion.
The effect Of all this was rather startling to those
on the outer parts of the boat. First she backed
then she ran forward bang upon the levce then
backed aud pitched forward again, and bumped aud
twisted about, altogether in manner 50 eccentric
that the captain left the piothouse in 4 rage and
went tearing and swearing down to the engine room
"Whatn the dis the matter p he shouted as he
found the perspiriug Fox still screwng and Jerking
away at the engine-"what the HI does all this
mean, Fox ~
go away, captain, don't talk to me " said Fox, in
tones of anguish, now jerking frantically at lever
Ego away, captan--I'm eight or ten bells behind
now, and if you keep talking to me, I'll never ketch
up y The captain concluded that his engineer and
the bells couldn't agree and So after helping Fox
out of his dilemma had all the superauous bells taken
down.