Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-08-21

| Fox f -, AND THE BELLs-F O
F-, known to everybody in thi
part Of the country, is no more
"after life's fitful fever he sleeps
well" He was the very soul o
humor, and numerous are 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 q
steamboat engineer, and at one time
had the head berth on one Of the
fastest crack packets that ever pad
died between The Mound and Cres-
cent Cities. The captain Of this
| boat had an active mind, and was
always studying. out Inches and dod-
ges by which to save time and keep
p=his reputation for fast trips. An
idea that he had succeeded in hatch
ing out at one aime, was an impro-
|Ved method Of communication be-
tween the pilot and engineer. The
time-honored plan Of having two
bells to the engine, one for starting
and stopping and the other for back
ing, was entirely too slow for him,
or rather too incomplete. = So he
had a whole lot of bells, Of differ
ent tones, with pilot-house eonnec-
tons, hung up over the engine );
and he explained them at due length
to Fox.
The big bell was for starting and
stopping; that, for Stacking steam
this bell was for erowding steam !;
that other for backing slow; this
onahere for backing fast, etc, etc.
After much jangling of the bells
and explanation Of this kind, the
captain left Fox alone in his glory.
Fox had received the instructions
quietly and grimly ; and if he had
any dithdence as to bis capability of
following the bells correctly, he new
er betrayed it to any. one. /
The evening OF. departure came,
aud steam was raised. Fox was at
bis post, with a very serious face;
and the captain was i'll the pilot
house, for the express purpose of
giving Fox his first exercise with
the bells. The last plank was hau-
led in, and :" ting a=ling, ling, ling,
ling!" went one of the back bells. /
Fox sprang at the sound the wheels
gave lick backward, the adjoiu-
ing boats. between which tie dep-I
artiug one was tightly jammed, i
cracked, groaned, and spanged IN
der the tremendous friction. !
sSTing- fling, ling!n went another
bell. Fox quickly obeyed the. or
der, but before getting through, an
other bell rang. He was now thor |
engaged, grinding and un-
grinding the crank and jerking and !
banging the levers; and as he went
ahead, the bells of different sounds
kept on in their jangliDg, IA 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 levee:; then backed and pitch.
ed forward again, nd.bumped and
twisted about, altogether, IN man-
ner SO eccentric, that the captain
left the pilot-house in q rage aud
went tearing and swearing down to
The engine roon1.
.sWhat'n the d-n's the matter p
he shouted. as he found the perspi-
ring Fox still screwing and jerking
away at the engine, g what HI
does all this mean. Fox2' !
SEQ away. captain, don't talk to
me" said Fox in tones OF anguish,
now jerking frantically at a lever
= go away, captain--l'1n eight Or
ten bells behind now, and if you
keep talking tome, I'll never ketcb
npr' The captain concluded that
his engineer and the bells couldn't |
agree; and 50, afte- helping Fox
out Of his dilemma, had all the su-
perfiuous bells taken down. /
uTha only real liberty caD.n |