Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-07-05
The Mad Engineer.

Ne IL lowering over the mourning CITY vi NE" VT
abe veil lo"''9
GaDs, II roar of the escaping steam told all who
iD5 .it the steamer Western Belle bad cast OIL her
beard I !. ,S and was now, like uncaged wild bird,
se nT rIr on the wind, ready to start her flight up
\, Mississippi . e,u,.o lad roocbod
"",anadp deck the gang-plank was drawn In
bsPJ We was said to those gathered on the wharf
ogTclefs huered in the breeze, waving an aoleu'
.aj We we're ell. e,,re,rr Of tho
Ebnpst almost depopuIating whole cities IN single
r and carrying death and desolatlon IN nea'! every
@;r
hGo! , was at its height in New Orleans. Bust
I % kinds appeared to be utterly Frustrated before
TN rasi,lLss march OF the dread destroyer Al"or
ue ~ al who had friends or pecunary ability, were IN
p ry on placing themelvts Or families at SAFE olSV-
a from the deadly vlsltant.
"' natural consequence every boat or othcr con,
rq which had not ceased running, was crowded.
,%E dc dviug and earStrlcken citlZehs
THE Western Belle formed no exception 10 tne 6ehefai
iJ IN this occasion, us she swung I'll into the
IAN an observer could readily II ave Se'h thal She was
sub i 10 her utmost capacity.
% n had reached the channel observed the cap
=. hurry mast me- muttering to nlmsef apparently IN
treat agitation
5t .U%J only known before we cast of-yet some
hing must be done, that Is eViHeh'-out "h'''
nIIiyc me the Charge.
,,ai REYNOLDS raised his eyes at the sound of the
,r and sonorouS but somewhat imperative voice that
,rd the words, and beheld TALL dark-teatued and
uEiroIy handsome man, who had hastily approached
@ the opposite direction, and who, instantly seizng
I' Tsntau the engineer has left his pOst-gone up
Il I3J-the cholera :" ard his gestures were sgni-
Fart as he spoke.
~, already aware of the fact ~ said the Captain,
.lvirty in his tones, but why do you evince such
i'r.st IN the matter p while his mOnentary stern
tho OUptpp of no yhpca
e. tn was partly concealed by heavy beard and nous
%lo Of glossy blackneSs.
1i am Lieutenant George Hilton of tie United States
-rr but formerly chief engineer OF the Prairie Bird
.rr9r service said the stranger in hurried manner
11ioriog q Wc.LknOwn boat, noted in years gone by
Az her speed and superior accommodations.
And vet your object is offer your services to me
o, engineer 0r the up trip?' said Captain Reynolds
npHggy
Lieutenant, | thank you, doubly thank you
,3 will avail myself of your kind offer; accepting il
The same generous spirit with which it is made anC
bonr nrlcr ceremony y! said the captain, he warm
rprscd the hand OF the other. knowing that the
frmtn were all green hands, just fastening tc
take charge and manage as best might, the engineer
1nartuqnt-but now l shall feel at ease"
sIbr9 let re at once enter upon my duties there j;
M time TO lose " said the lieutenant, and there
strange CLEAN in bis wild, restless eyes and nervous
popularity IN his gesture
il was unuotcjd by the captain-Or if he noticed
yiap1iv considered the diosyucrasies of an ardent TEN
Dgaucnt-as Ire replied with satisfaction expressed IL
bis voice,
.yrge, true. fear you will find things in some
what confused state. but You can send forward Tor M
at any moment
They passed beyond my hearing, and | leisurely as
crded Tie hurricane deck to Ell Joy SeSta and segar To-
al hour after which sought my saterOo0l-tound
entered closed the door and was on the point OF con
graduating myself upon having been enabled to secur
H. when NY attention arrested by the earnest into
nation Of musical voice OF peculiar beauty-One tina
w.ducrer alCrWaId be forgotten, though heard m
lie wild beauty and grandeur OF an Oceon storm-th
roar aid carnage OF battle, TIE dScOrdant murmur
Of an ass mbed universe! Spell bound and attentive,
listened.
So sir whoever you are for the love OF heaven assis
net5 get UuU OF this room-and at once. Our safety
ave. tie lives OF every on board is pCndng--l ShuC
Der to lliuk-perhaps the issue OF a few moments"
There was an indescrbabe earnestness in the utter
me Of tie words that thrilled me the soul TO thin
was to act, and knowing by the sound that only TIL
beard partition separated from the fair pleader-to
that Sue was fair would have staked my existence
Immediately drew my heavy bowie" and, first assurln
mot speedy deyerance commenced cutting away {
lie top OF one OF the boards.
In two minutes it was loose--in four L took 1t OF
adsteppld through the opening. What picture Wa
revealed
Seated On low stool, with her auburn ringets foa
ngOyer her shoulders Of alabaster whiteness IN Il
Udntss OF disheyeed charms" beautiful made
seemingly not over seventeen summers, and eyes
bright as the jewels OF a regal dladem.
Her hands tied behind, and ID her struggles
ice herself, the delicate flesh cruelty Iacerated.
One stroke Of my knife and the cords were severe
an instant, and observing the increasing paor IN b
natures quicker than it takes me to tell IT, had caug
her in my arms, and borne her through the entran
which my good blade had efecIed 10 dash open t
tndO~ and to battle her feverish brow with water,
le work of moment
She soon revived and to my eager questioning as
he cause Of her painful situation, replied that all
auy had fallen victims OF the cholera with the exec
gl her eldest brother, who had recovered from
lsra5e Cny to exhibit symptoms of that dark anOms
The human mud-lnsanlty. That she had used /
Utmost influence with her brother to get him TO vi
1eAWh, hoping that the change OF cline and tra'
Would completely restore him to his former strong mi
aud health. That an hour before, he had come to
room with a stout cord in his hand, and said in plf
I'LL manner, that he must tie her up. Apprehending
HL, She had not objected what she supposed one
us YasaFts, but he drew revolver, and Did
4at the first words she uttered would be her last tn
We became alarmed and begged to be released w
esTange calmneSs and voice which brooked no rep
commanded her to silence, and stating that ne y
Embassy OF Satan, duly commissioned to drive
steamer 10 he'll, locked the door and departed.
one paused, and faint smile shone through her tea
4' IFe sunshine in a midsummer rain A light dawn
T4 my mud The engineer was then, the brother
~T angelic picture of loneliness, and he-I shuddel
~ remembered to have noticed the increased speed
mailman
NO time was to be lost. Hastily telling her of t
.' l knew OF the Iieutenant's movements, | escort
WI W lne grand saloon, and promising to return
captain
aoIuy had | reached the staircase when my att