Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-15

whistling of the steam was something
frightful nOw.-it almost drowned all
other noises.
"Stand by to meet her''
George had the wheel hard down and
was standing on the spoke.
"All ready"
The boat hesitated, seemed to hold
her breath, as did the Captain and pilots
and then she began to fall away to star
board, and every eye lighted.
Mon, then!-meet her! meet her!
Snatch herr'
The wheel flew to port SO fast that the
spokes blended into spider web,-the
swing of the boat subsided,-sh steadied
herself
''Sev-six and Hazfn'
| .SSGI feeti Sixf-"
Bang! She hit the bottom! George
shouted through the tube:
Spread her wide openi Whale 1t at
Aer!'
Pow-wow-chow! The escape pipes
beIched snowy pillars of steam aloft, the
boat aground, and surged, and trembled-
and slid over into
Mark twainr'
i "Quarter her.
"Tap tap! tapr' Ito signify Lay in the
leads").
And away she went, flying up the will
| low shore, with the whole silver sea of
the Mississippi stretching abroad on every
hand.
No Amaranth in sight!
"Ha-ha, boys, we took couple of tricks
that time!" said the Captain.
And just at that moment red glare
appeared in the head of the chute, and
the Aramanth came springing after them
"Well, | swear''
"Jim, what is the meaning of that?"
"I'll tell you what's the meaning of it.
That hail we had at Napoleon was Wash
Hastings wanting to come t. Cairo, and
we didn't stop. He's in that pilot-house,
now, showing those mud-turtles how to
hunt for easy water.
That's it! | thought it wasn't any
SLOUGH that was running that middle bar
in Hog-eye Bend. If it's Wash Hast
ings-well, what he don't know about the
river amt worth knowing-a regular
gold-leaf, kid-glove, diamond breast-pin
pilot, Wash Hastings is. We won't take
any tricks off ham, old manm
Il wish I'd stopped for him, that's
all"
The Amaranth was within 800 yards of
the Boreas, and still gaining. The "old
man. spoke through the tube:
"What is she carrying now?"
"A hundred and sixty-fve, STRIP
Flows your wood?'
"Pine ali out-cypress half gone--eat-
ing up cottonwood like piew
Break into that rosin on the main
deCk-pile it in, the boat can pay for it!'
Soon the boat was plunging, and quiv-
eTing, and screaming more madly than
! ever. But the Amaranth's head was al
most abreast the Boreas' stern.
''How's your steam, Harry?"
Hundred and eighty-twO, sir"
Break up the casks of bacon IN the
fOrrard hold! Pile it in! Levy on that
turpentine in the fantaiI-drench every
stick of wood withitI"
The boat was moving earthquake by
this time
How is she now?"
ga hundred and ninety-six and still a
sWelling-water below the middle gauge
cocks-carrying every pound she can
stand-nigger roosting on the safety
, valver'
Good! How's your draft?"
Bully! Every time niger heaves a
stick of wood into the furnace he goes
out the chimney with it!''
The Amaranth drew steadily up till her
: jackstaf breasted the Boreas' wheel house
Climbed along inch by inch till her
chimneys breasted it-crept along, further
and further, till the boats were wheel to
Wheel-and then they closed up with a
heavy jolt and locked together tight and
fast IN the middle of the big river, under
the flooding moonlight A roar and a
hurrah went up from the crowded decks
of both steamers-alI hands rushed TO the
guards to look and shout and gesticul9te
the weight careened the vessels over
toward each other-officeTs flew hither
and thither, cursing and storming, trying
to drive the people amidships-both cap
! tains were leaning over their ratings,
, / shaking their fists, swearing and threat
ening-black volumes of smoke rolled up
, and canopied the scene, delivering q rain
of sparks upon the vessels-t pistol
: shots rang out, and both Captains lodged
I unhurt and the packed mass of passengers
! surged back and fell apart, while the
f shrieks of women and children SCARED
above the intolerable din --
And then there was booming roar, g
laundering crash, and the riddled Amar
anth dropped loose from their hold and
t drifted helplessly away.
: Instantly the FIRE doors of the BoreaS
were thrown open, and the men began
. uaShlng buckets Oh wafer IN Tue furnaces
. for it would have been death and de
D truction to stop the engines with such
5 head of steam on.
5 As soon as possible the Boreas dropped
, down to the floating wreck, and took of
E the wounded, and the unhurt-at least al
5 that could be got at, for the whole for
4 ward half of the boat was shapelesE
ruin, with the great chimneys lying
crossed on the top of it, and underneath
5 were a dozen victims imprisoned alive
and wailIng for help. While men witt
axes worked with might and main to frei
< these poor fellows, the Boreas boats wen
j about, picking up stragglers from th'
n river.
g And now a new horror presented itself
It The wreck took fire from the dismantleC
furnaces! Never did men work with
! heartier will than did those stalwar
braves with axes. But It was Of no use