The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-12-10

float as bars of lead arc, the Captain
and pilot of the Bennett were somewhat
concerned-for the sake of the corn--to
know the exact location of the tree.
Half a mile from the spot it became ey-
ident, even to the passengers clustered
forward on the cabin deck, that the syc-
amore had remained quite near its old
home, for long, rough ripple was seen
directly across the line of the channel.
Then arose the question as to how much
water was on top ofthe tree, and wheth.
er any bar had time to accumulate.
The steamer was stopped, the engines
were reversed and worked by hand to
keep the Bennett from drifting down
stream,a boat was lowered and manned !,
the Chums forming part of her crew,
and the second officer went down 10
take soundings, while the passengers,
to when even so small a cause or excite
Inent was godsend, crowded the rail
and steam The boat shot rapidly DOWN
the stream, headed for the shore end of
the ripple. Size seemed almost into the
boiling mud in front of her when the
passengers on the steamer heard the
mate in the boat shout
ttBack, all %
The motion of the oars changed in an
instant, but little too late, for heavy
root of the fallen giant, just covered by
water, caught the little craft, and caused
1t to careen SO violently that one man
was thrown into the water. As she
another man went in.
"Confound it % growled the Capt
ain, who was leaning out of the pilot
house window. 81 hope they can swim.
Still, faint as bad as it would be if we
had any more cargo to take aboard.''
'sIt's the Chums, "remarked the pilot,
who had brought glass to bear upon
the boat.
"Thunder :" exclaimed the Captain,
striking a bell t'Below there! Low
er away another boat-lively 7" Then,
turning to the passengers, he exclaimed:
:. Nobody on the riyer'd forgive me if
lost the Ghums. Twould' be as bad as
Barnum losing his giraffe
The occupants of the first boat were
evidently of the Captains own mind,
for they were eagerly peering over her
side, and into the water.
Suddenly the pilot dropped his glass,
a trumpet with both
hands and shouted
"Forrard-forrard! One of 'ems
np' Then he puts his mouth to the
speaking tube, and screamed to the en-
gineer "Iet her drop down a little,
Billy 20
The sounding party headed toward
black speck, apparently a hundred yards
below them, and the great steamer slow
ly dritted down stream. The speck
moved toward shore, and the boat, rap
idly shortening distance, seemed to
scrape the bank with her port oars.
'sSafe enough now. I guess % ex-
claimed Judge Turner, of one of the
Southern Illinois circuits. sThe Judge
had been interrupted in telling story
when the accident occurred, and was in
a hurry to resume.
''As was saying, sal / he, che hardly
looked like professional horse thief.
He was little and quiet, and had always
worked away steadily at his trade /
believed him when he said twas his first
ofense, and that he did it to raise mon-
ey to bury his child and I was going
to give him an easy sentence, and ask
the Governor to pardon him. The laws
have to be executed you know, but
there's no law against mercy being
practiced atterward Well, the Sheriff
was bringing him from jail to hear the
verdict and the sentence, when short
man with red hair, knocked the Sheriff
down, and off galloped that precious
couple for the Wabash. / saw the en-
tire
"The deuce !'' interrupted the pilot,
again dropping his glass.
he Judge glared angrily; the passen-
gers saw, across the shortened distance.
one of the Chums holding by a root to
the bank trying to support the other,
whose shirt hung in rags, and who SEEM
ed exhausted.
s w hich ones hurt ?' asked the Cap
tain. stGive me the glass;
But the pilot had left the house and
taken the glass with him.
= The Judge continued
II saw the whole transaction through
the window. / was SO close that I saw
the Sheriffs' assailant's very eyes. I'd
know that fellows face if / saw it in
Africa
"Why, they're both hurt p exclaimed
the Captain. "They've thrown coat
over one, and they're crowdin' around
the other. What the. THEY'RE
comin' back without 'em-need whisky
to bring 'em to, | suppose. Why didn't
send whisky down by the other boat /?
There's an awful amount OF time being
wasted here. What's the matter. Mr..
Bell ?'' shouted the Captain, as the boat
approached the steamer.
both dead" replied the officer.
Both Now, ladies and gentle
men" exclaimed the Captain, turning
toward the passengers, who were crowd
ed forward just below him, 81 want to
know if that isn't streak of the mean
est kind of luclx2 Both the Chums gone
Why, / won't be able to hold up my |
head in New Orleans. How came It /
that just those two fellows were knock
ed out ~
Red tumbled out, and Black jumped
n after him, 2 replied the officer. Red /
must have been caught IN an eddy and
tnRaoslfa6 IN tho old frnose ,-r,Sx4e .l. To-