The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-10-01
PULLING THE WnoNel EEL.


Ts,ssr.,T,--7TTT q z - Ffl.E1
PULLING THE WRONG BELL:
Several years ago atfine Western
steamer of the largest class was plow-
ing her way down stream with Il full
head on. The time was early in the
morning, the sun had not yet cooled
his beams ip epHgrky Y waters IofEthe
Mississippi; few of the passengers
were astir, and the boat quiet and
still, save tie regular scream of the
iron throat, was making fine Roadway.
Suddenly the engineers bell rang out
a furious and alarming summons,
which being translated into the YER
nacular, mean Slow hert'i The man
at the steam obeyed the mandate, and
with his hand upon the lever awaited
anxiously for the next call.
1t soon came, and louder yet, Stop
herp .ssfoIf2 uEk STOoa
Some trouble ahead,' thought the
engineer; but hardy had the idea
passed Though his tmiildH %lienathe
busy bell again pealed forth
Back herp
Steam Has, lst on in an instant, and
seizing the leaveF the man commenced
working the engine by hand but the
wheel had not yet completed the first
retrograde revolution when a, louder
naturalization tinkled out successful
ly-
GO tahSeadpa' ii'a - - =
eslow herr .iooH mn @ef.ia
Back herl'
60 aheadp OIL ,i,ai@ 7oi
Having obeyed the command, and
supposing that alLH9s right at last,the
man quilted his post for a moment,
and stepped out on the guards for the
purposeof ascertaining what the trou-y
BILE had been, when suddenly the ever
busy-bell was again heard:
.Siow heftn . II
Before he could put his hand ON the
screw, the bell again ordered:
Stop herr fnfmig diatesfyy after, 1T i, Back
herp and go ahead p
Instead of going ahead,sthe engi-
neer scratched his own, and then ap-
plying his mouth to the spealSiia tube
addressed l1e pilot thusAbut stop,
let us turn Tor moment to the pilot
and see what was going on in his
minions.
This gentIenan had been but a few
minutes al bis; post, and was not fairly
awake when Tie bel eonmmenced its
mysteriaus operations but sleepy as
he wa h queer antics Of the boat
and thu st7ahg e languags Of the steam
pipe, Excited his attention, and he had
arrived at ceactlsi on that some
thing was WRONG, at the same moment
that idehtisaHl idea had forced itself.
uponatae seRgineer;d 50 applying his
mouthstoi the end of fifhe stuiibesgolthe iisl fol-.
lowing We Went up "a and dowSh3 dow
simdltane6s :.sA 10 NAV n Us aslz 2.
Whatimthunder w .dte YOU about up
theresay aJ az o2,,,9tt.'fs2 si.2 2 .';
WHAT III Thunder are are You u liso about
down1thefe en- 70 lFfoa >ais'' sd' ae q |
Having, like two vessels about
commencing an engas asement, fired their
shotsAffi6Ektheff fjb6aads the ftMfaaffhh lin went
Immediately into. aetiapslass atisy follows:
Pilot-,Who told, yod to stop her
and bach. heF jGi 80, ,ga,.i,.,os
Engineer Dondid.in44Vhat did you
ring The" bell for tWentys times . -,
PilQtFYou must be a. nice fellow TO-
trust, EoKettles;i to get drunk be-
fore sunrise: Call ! yothr thr mate and turn
IN. .Ko1Eiae1 dJguI1
EngineerADrunki drunk yourself.
I haven't HAD a drop. and you are just
lying drunk, that's what it's.
Pilot|neol0here 8 old4Kettles,' hold
on bitmidiPn be down on you like
a thousand of brick. :. ''l'' q m :
Engineer-DOaHE trouble yourself,
to come down. I'll be up to you in
two Shakes, q AIS and then we'll see who's.
drunk and who is not. III if
Now this backing and filing had
exciteds the; attention '.of officers and
crew, ana as the pilot and engineer
having obtained relief, met half way,
down on the lboilerdeek,> captain and
clerk, mate and steward, barkeeper
and chamberrmaiitd, all fastened to the
post of observation, and ere the two
combatants' eobld Join issue they were
seized and held, and an investigation
of the affair was entered into. 5..6-i : +
While all this was iii progress neith-
er boat nor bell had been touched, but
the same singular succession of orders
was going on. and, the two assistants,
above and belo%, were, nieditating a
little affair Of their own when that of
the prinefpalsahad been settled. -.
The mystery asalapparently past
solution, But the" capt9iihi bethought
him of possible cause, and stepping
to a .,staterr9oms in othe 6 social rhsu,s
kicked "A athes d door open, and there stood
laniy young Tennessean who had
embarked at Memphis the previous
might've actively jerking at q cord
that ran thFd dugh his room in the fur
tbs-carner. @' ~ 4" NOR ala1
SeiziRgl him blythe collar the cap
tain exfrllialimedI rliali What are you about p
'AbgutP answered the Tennesseean,
why don't YOU see I'm ringing for my
boo+ssJo % si3ai }H1-r4g iliWnrt' 1iG ~uiE-
pooIs .ppHrB1iiE Ioi l,sts-sl |
SGAoaT i n
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