Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-05-21
THE FEMALE PILOT.

al wish you would tell me o story, Mon
sieur Scoreta," said to an old whiteheaded
pilot Of the St. lawrence, as he sat ia the
housekeepCr's room at my uncle's, one cold
bitter night in December, while the storm
was such as Montreal only can boast Of
The huusekeeper was his niece, and the old
man would often come hither and enjoy a
social chat, rather than remain alone in his
cabin, which was midway between Mon
treal and Lachipe; while room over the
kitchen was preserved for his use lie was
an especial friend of my uncle, and none
were more welcome than he. Age had
crowned his head with hoary baiIs, and
many noble barque bad be guided over
the deep water OF the belle river Of the
Cqnadas.
And wha. shall | tell you, love ?''
queried the old man, "a | seated myself hv
his side, ard placed a brimming goblet GG
ale hy him to help his memory in review
ing the past.
Tell me story &c the St. Lawrence, -
| answered, - something real ard true"
T a moment he was silent; theu sips
ping his ale, he commenced:
Many years ago, when | was 50 small
10y as ta hardly recullcct it now, my
brother AID myself were placed on board
one ct the river steamers as cabin boys and
wGi.eIs, with view 10 Lecome pilots when
we were older. That was nearly fifty Years
ago, and boats were not fitted NJ in the
style they are now. nur we're good plots a
thing t. be fluid every day We had run
up and d ,wn several times when orc morn
rag, about ten O'clock, we Stopred at
Br ckyiile to take On board, as usual, a
government yilot to guide Us down the
river. 1t was late in the season and we
mad a strong wind the night before, leaving
the river rough, ard our usual pilot had
hard work tC keep the beat in lis rr rer
track, While 1t brought US into Rrockyile
two hours later than the usual time. The
clouds overhead sill looked cold ard the
wind blew fresh and strong, when, making
MI p ssIble haste, we again Vut out the
harbUr ard were soon bounding on cur
way. Throughout the morning noticed
an aExirus iOuk On the captain's face, which
besr, kc his unea.iress about the FINAL ter
mlua'ion Of our journey.
e nd a good many passengers VI
beard. and although we usuall7 reached
Montreal by fCur O'Clock in the afternoon.
we should be delayed until tx, if rot later.
About ten miles this side If Lachins a
storm OF rain eDnmeuced, which rendered
it almost impussil le TO guide the boat at
all while the Tarids Of that name. the
most terrific in the whole river, were vet
t. be passed. TIE pilot was one Of the
be,t e.: the route, tut man Of ras.ionate
TEN! CT, with peculiar eyed took. Be
tween him and the boat pilot there existed
an old Srudge, v hich had once OF twi, e led
to blows. when they came into col tact with
o;her. That morning willie passing one Of
the higher falls, they sto3d together at the
wheel, when, owing TO tho strong current
Of the water ard the almost exhausted
strength If him who had guided US all
night, one spoke Of tiie wheel sliprcd from
his hands and nearly caused an accident #
a pretty serious nature. THIS ANNOYED his
companion, and hard words passed between
them, since which time a sulien silence had
been preserved.
When about two miles above tie La
chime rapids, some Of the rigging aluft gave
way, and the night pilut muuI.tsd the upner
deck with ladder and attempted 10 make
II fast. The wind blow fiercelv. aud while
exerting all his strength to stay the mis-
chief, hc lost bus hold and fell the ladder
coming down directly upor the head Of our
government aid, wounding him pretty Sc
verely. MT pauslrg to look at the mis-
Chief, be seized the unfortunate man, and
with almost superhuman strength, lifted
him above the boat railing. The other.
! quickly guessing his meaning, and wird
ing his arms around the neck of his com
rani1ns, they fell together into the boiling
food below. We lowered the lfe.Joat as
quickly as possible, ropes we're thrown out
ard every effort put forth 10 save them
but in vain. They rose to the surface OF
the water, still locked in each others arms.
and then sank from our view forever.
The boat now RAPIDLY rushed on. COM
ing nearer the trlghrul rapid, while terror
struck faces were around US. at the thoupb BIZ
that no master hand was near to guide us
/ through the dark passage below. The
scene which we had just been called to wit
ness only made our situation more terrific,
while wild and fearful eyes around US be-
( spoke the agonizing apprehension of the
! passengers aud crew as we went plunging
madly tn destruction scarcely half a mi G
from the gulf, whose dashing waves we
could distinctly hear. The captain had
[ frankly told us of his inability to guide US
! through the perilous passage. while deck.
I gangway, and cabin were filled with men.
/ women, and children. some of whom were
| praying, seine weeping, others intensely
/ crazed with an agony too intense for utter
/ ance. Women eagerly clutehed their CHI.
/ dren, and husbands pressed their wives to
! their bosOms with only the hope Of Gving
( together. The captain stood at the wheel
assisted by one of the passengers. vainly
endeavoring to hold out to the last, and
guide her until every effort should prove
frultless, while, with strained eyes and
looks of DESPAIR, they gazed through the
| almost binding storm uron the cragcy
rocks, lifting high their gray bare heads
out of the water, and upon which they ex-
pected every moment TO be dashed to
pieces.
just as frenzy had began to calm down
into sober, earnest preparation for the doom
which awaited them. there came out Of the
state rooms, a fair young creature over
whose head scarce sixteen summers had
passed. She was Of medium height, and
fair as the lily Of her northern cline She
donned dress Of plain black stuff, while
the coat Of one Of the deceased pilots was
buttoned tightly around her slight form
Her face was ashy pale, as she mounted the
stairway, and with her hair dishevelled by
the wind, she exclaimed, in a voice which
rung clear as the notes OF bugle above the
storm:
al know something of this Lachine
nd will ,So nv -.