New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-25
A Narrow Escape from Death.

by Oer5tOcE6Tl
was in New Orleans, and wanted to 90
up to Cincinnati, but had no money: so
shipped as fireman on one of the large Mis-
sissippi steamers, the Chillicothe, at 81
day.
We had reached the upper part of Ten
nessee, with Arkansas on the left, and, for
perhaps the tenth time since we left New
Orleans, we were looking ont for a wood
pile, car supply being nearly cut. The
ChillicOthe was a very large boat, with
seven boilers, and consumed when running
against the stream, from forty to forty-twO
cords daily. We therefore wooded" twice
a day, usually morning apd evening, but
sometimes in the night, For this purpose,
on the morning Of the fifth day of
the trip, We ran up close to wood yard
on the Tennessee shore. The bell was
Tung, man appeared on the bank; and
from the huTTicane-deCk the necessary
questions were asked as to the quality Of
the wood, the price, etc. Everything being
satisfactory, we landed, that Is, we ran up
TO the bank, the gang plank was run out,
and all the boats hands were soon at work,
assisted by the deck passengers, who got q
deduction in their fare for helping at the
wood landings. With this force the twenty
cOrds-mOTe or less-usUalIy taken in, were
soon on board.
On the way. one or more of the buckets
loose, which not only kept up a continual
gathering, but prevented this wheel from
doing as good service as it should. and
thereby making the boat difficult to steer.
The engineer had promised to have it re-
paired. but neglected TO do 50 until the
pilot came down and logged his memory.
Then lie sent a man into the wheel to see
what was wanted. He found that it would
be necessary 10 put IN two new buckets,
after first removing what little remained
of the old ones.
I was sent IN to the wheel TO assist the
carpenter. We soon had the broken buckets
out, and the new ores IN their places, it
being necessary only to screw them en-,
which was not easy, as the bolts were very
rusty, and the buckets had to be screwed
on very tightly. The carpenter, finding the
wrench we had insufficient, sent me to his
locker, near the stern, for longer and
stronger one. We had been too busy to
notice what progress they were making in
''WCuding.' and the engineer, q drunken,
good for-uothing fellow, had probably en-
tlrely forgotten that be had two Of his men
in one Of the wheels. The wood was on
board and paid for, and the signal that all
was ready to start must have been given
while / was looking for the wrench, for,
when I ran forward with it, l was thunder
struck to hear the command, ' Haul in the
plank - and then. IL the same instant, to
hear the pilots bell give the usual signal
to back, IL order to get cut into the stream.
In an instant the wheels were in motion. |
knew the carpenter could not have finished
his work; but had they called hun out! |
could see hin nowhere. /. therefore, drop
ped the wrench, and sprang forward to the
engineer, crying, trantically, There's
man in the wheel! There's a man in the
wheelW The boilers we're very hot, and We
were blowing of steam, so that il was al
most impossible TO be heard. | cried out
three or four times before the half tipsy en-
gineer understood what / was saying; but
when he did understand ne was as terrified
as l was, and stopped the engine immedi-
ately. The pilot cried down through his
speaking--u6e, go ahead! go aheadn
adding some hearty curses; but
the engineer did not heed him. /
quickly -Old four or FIVE of the deck
hands what was the matter. and we hasten
ed into the wheelhOuse in search Of the car
penter. We saw him clinging to one of the
lower arms, which fortunately was above
the water but, despite all our cries, he did
not stir a hand. He must really have gone
around eight or ten times, and have been
frightened out Of his senses, but not out of
physical strength, for he clUng to the wheel
as tightly as though he had grown to it.
We all clambeTed down to him as quickly
as possible, bat were scarcely able to loosen
his arms; they seemed rigid, and we were
compelled to loosen them ny main force.
This done, We succeeded, with great diff
Guilty, IN getting the unfortunate man on
deck.
In the meantime the boat had drifted
down stream, stern foremost, until she
struck the branches Of some trees that hung
out otter the river IN consequence OF the
bank having settled, and was fast swinging
around when We sung ont. An right TO