The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-09-14

bring the G. into San Francisco ahea d
of the opposition, or burst her, the
words sounded very heavy in my ears,
out of regard to my precious ones that
were aboard. got the knowledge of
all this about five minutes before the
lines were cast off, and l was hopiug to
get word with Katy in time to send
her and the babies ashore, but just as l
turned to go up the ladder Trippet
caught me by the collar, giving me a
savage look, and saying it was bad
time to leave the furnace. Being used
to oteying orders, turned back to my
work, aud before had time to take
second thought tho pilot pulled the bell
to start the engine.
Just while we got uuder way my
little ones stood peepipg and smiling at
me behind the hatchway rail, and Trip
pet, seeing me pretty often turned to-
ward them, says:
Whose brats are they 2"
"They'rs nebody's brats," says 1,
little sharp.
"Well," says Trippet, "you just 'teud
to your furnace and keep down your
bristles, or may be they'll be orphans
before they get off this boat"
After sayieg which he goes up the
ladder aud lets down the hatch door,
which shut US up alone together with
no daylight except what come in
through u couple of headlight. I had
been coaling very heavy just hofore,
aud was standing with Py shovel in
hand, measuring Trippet with my eyes,
aud having very big "mad" rising in
my breast, which was trying the best
| GOULD to keep down. we hadn't now
been more than twenty minutes under
way when the engine Was working under
full head. aad the revolutions incroas-
ing every minute The extra strain up.
Oh the joints of the old hull was setting
her Whispering and groanlng terribly.
The play of the pades was getting so
rapid that tiie sound got changed into
u steady roar just like thunder asound-
i'll around us, and catching peep
through the dead lights, | saw the suds
billing h CHER aud heavier than / ever
saw before.
We were streak;a2 through the water
at tearing rate. with the guagc show
ing twenty pounds more steam than com
mon. While Trippet, paying no heed
to that, was running buck and forth to
the dead lights, measuring the distance
Of the boat ahead. | was setting great
hopes on the safety going off in
tive to take the strain from the hiler,
and was feeding the furnace rather
moderately, when he turned on me, very
savage like, and bid me cram in all the
coal | could, which | did, strictly obey
ing orders, Having a big faith u the
valve
The old boat was now flying along
fearful, and could hear IL great excite
ment on deck, OF passengers running
back and forth, shouting on account of
our just passing the quarter of the c.,
which / could sec wasn't in for an easy
beat, as she was having a regular young
VcsuYiss escaping out of her funnel, and
was making desperate push to leave
us astern There was just then strange
sound in the biler, which sent Il trcmbe
over me; but settled down all quiet
whep ! found it was tie safcty-valve
srunbling, and fixingssitsclf to go off !;
bu, Trippcs, who was wild and anxious
bee ,usc the other boat. for Tho la,
quarter of All hour, wasn't letting US
gain Az inch, grabbed crowbar and,
running up to the valve, pricd it down,
oursing and swearing, while the sweat
wac staading in drops ali over his face.
Now, when say this thing a-lQing,
my feelings burst out fighting high. My
shovel went out of my hand, and land cd
at the sar side Of the coal bQnkpr, and
RAJ to the turnac. doors, and opened
'em all wide to check tho steam.
This ere thing has gone about far
enough" says l. "You might be
willin' to take desperate risk Of HI
for IL pile Of shinip dollars, and squeeze
the old tea-kettle to The bursting piut;
but you haven't got wife and babies
aboard, like | have, and in consequence
no more steam while I've got wind and
muscle to hinder" says |.
lrippet's temper was a.showipg in
his face, while he was a-t,in" down the