The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-09


the number of cotton boats that burnt in
such year, and how such cub would
have made a lightning pilot if he hadn't
got burnt up in the cotton trade, and
we -, always ~: noticed that :" Sans
appetite failed 5os him sitter we
that, and instead of going to 'sbed he
would 60 prowling around the lower deck
and peering about the hatchways smell
ing at every opening like, . pup that had
lost its master. . One day when we back:
ed out of Memphis with 4 big cargo of
cotton, l complained, in Sans hearing.
that the mate had loaded the boat too
near the engines. The boy followed me
into the engine.room, and without seem-
ing to notice them told my striker: that
would do my level best to keep that
cotton from catching fire, but that it was
= glim chance with bales piled right up
before the furnace doors. Sam got
whiter'n bulkhead, and went up to the
texas where he packed his Saratoga ready
for any business that might come before
the meeting. When he went on watch
I posted the second clerk to keep an eye
on him. He hid behind a smokestack
and saw Sam alone; in the pilot house, his
hair on end, his face like q corpse's, and
his eyes sticking out SO far you could
have knocked them off with = stick, He
danced around the pilotshouse, turned
up his nose like he anelling for a
polecat, pulled every eell,s.t lened the
boat s nose for the bank and yelled s'fire!'''
like a Cherokee Indian on the war-patll,
That yell brought everybody, on deck.
We had big cargo ofpassengers, and the
women screeched, the men rushed for
cork pillows and: the crew yankcd the
doors off their hinges and rushed to the
guards. ready to 60 overheard at the
first moderation Of weather. The skip
per had hard work to make the crazy
passengers believe that Sthere wasn't
any fire, but he brought them :, to-
reason finally. ! n 'paids no attention
TO-. Sans s: frantic yells,,s so the boat
didn't run her nozzle, against; the bank he
aimed for. The Captain and First Pilot
andaalot of the passengers after. hunting
7a1Eover the boat, couldn't find q sign of
7 fire anywhere outside the furnaces, and
then they went for Sam He swore<up
and down that he smelt cotton burning !;
no use talking to hin.-he knew the smell
Of burning cotton, and by thunder !! he
had smelt it. The First. Pilot said kind
Of soft and 'pityingly to Sam = MY boy,
il, you'd told me you. was SO near the
jim;jam I'd stood double watch for you.
Now you 60. and soak your head in a
bucket Of water and take 4 good sleep.
ard you'll be all right by tomorrow
Sam just billed over at this, and when a
prettygyoung woman passenger said to
the skipper, loud enough for Sam to hear,
$50 young and nice looking, too how sad
itHwould make his: poor mother feel to-
hear how be drinks he fairly frothed at
the mouth You never see fellow so
toned down as Sam was after that, and
though the boys never quit running him
hc never talked back, but looked kind of
puzzled as though he was trying to &C.
count fol, that smell Of cotton.smoke. - z
And ;whatwas the cause Of the smell!''jj
Il asked mine Ancient. He. chuckled q
full minute. and then said ssYou, see
there's = speaking tube running, from the
to the pilot-house. ! had in
mind the tricks Sam had played onsme,
and having worked him to = nervous. state
about Gre, I waited till he was alone in ]
the pilot. house, and then set fire to .
little wad of cotton, stuffed it into the
speaking tube,, and the ssmel: camo out
right under his nose. A little sugar on
it, Uari1. $50, e E5&.=t&Slt 80 S-aT Z