The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-04-29

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the uneasy steering Of the boat sool
showed that she was getting "dowl
by the head"
The three men in the pilot hous,
began to talk in short, sharp sentences
low and earnestly. As their excite
nent rose, their voices went down.
As fast - one Of ,hem put down th'
spyglass another took It up; but al
ways with q studied air of calmncss
Each time the verdict was:
"She's gaining!"
The captain spoke through ths
tube:
"What steam are you carrying?"
"A hundred and forty-two,sir! But
she's getting hotter and hotter all tn.
time"
The boat was straining and groan
ing, and quivering like monster in
pain. Both pilots we're at work now
on each side Of the wheel, with theil
coats and vests off, their bosons aud
collars wide open, and the perspira
tion flowing down their faces. They
were holding the boat so close to ths
shore that the willows swept tn.
guards almost from stem to stern.
"S,and by!" whispered George.
"Al resdyw said Jim, under hi,
breath.
"Let her Gomez
The boat sprang away from the
shore like . deer,and darted in long
diagonal toward the other shore. She
closed in again and thrashed hel
fierce way along tho willows ~ before
The captain nut down the glass.
''Lord, how she walks up on us.
do hate to be beat"
"Jim, "said George, looking straight
ahead, watching the slightest yawn-
ing of the boat, and promptly meeting
it with the wheel, "how'll it do to try
Murderer's Chute?"
"Well, it's-it's taking chances
How was the cottonwood stump or
the false point below Boardmsn's /
island this morning?"
"Water just touching the roots.
"Well, it's pretty close work. That
gives six feet scant in the head oi
Murderer's Chute. We can just bare
ly rub throug if we hit it exactly
right. But it's worth trying. She
don't dare to tackle itw-meaning the
Amaranth.
In another instant the Boreas plung
ed into what seemed q crooked creek,
and the Amaranth's approaching
lights were shut out in q moment
Not q whisper was uttered now, bu,
the three men started ahead into the
shadows, and two of them spun the
wheel back and forth With anxious
watchfulness while the steamer tore
along. The chute seemed to come to
an cad everv fifty yards, but Away,
opened out in time. Now the head
of it was at hand. George tapped
the big bell three times, two leads.
men sprang to their posts. and in {
moment their wierd cries arose on the
night air, and were caught and re-
peated by two men on the upper deck
"No-o-bottom!"
s'De. e-p four!"
"Half three".
"Quarter three!"
"Mark under wa-a., ter three.w
"Mark twain"
''Quarter twainl-"
Davis pulled couple of ropes
there was jingling of small bells fal
below, the boats speed slackened ,and
the pcnt steam began to whistle and
the gauge-cocks scream:
'sBy the mark twain"
"Quar-ter-her-er less twain"
eight and half"
Slight feet"
"Seven-ana- half"
Another jingling of little bells and
the wheels ceased turning altogether
The whistling of the steam was some.
thing frightful, ,now-it almost drown.
ed ell other noises.
"Stand by to meet her."
George had the wheel hard down
and was standing on spoke.
"All ready"
The boat hesitated ed-seemed to hold
her breath, as did the captain and
pilots-and then she began to fal
away TO star5oard, and every eye
lighted.
"Now then-meet her, meet her
Snat-h herw
The wheel few to port so fast tha,
the spokes blended into a spider vel
the swing of the boat subsidized
she steadied herself
''Seven feet"
"Sev-six and half"
sSix feet. Six f"
Bang. She hit the bottom. George
shouted through the tube:
Spread her wide open. Whale it a
her.
Pow-wow--chow. The escap,
pipes belched snowy pillars of steam
aloft, the boat ground, and surged
and trembled-and slid over into
"M-a r-k twain"
"Quarter her
"Tap, tap, tap Ito signify lay il
the leads).
And away she went flying up th'
willow shore, with the whole silve
sea of the Mississippi stretching
abroad on every hand.
No Amaranth in sight.
"Ha-ha, boys, we took couple Q
tricks that time," said the captain.
And just at that moment = re-
glafe appeared in the head of tn
chute and the Amaranth came spring
ing after them.
"Well, swear.v'
"Jim, what is the meaning of that !?
"I'll tell you what's the meaning 0
it. That hail we had at Nopoleo
was Wash Hastings, wanting to com
to Cairo--and we didn't stop. He
In that pilot house, now, showing
those mud turtles how to hunt fc
easy water
THAT'S it! ! thought it WASH
any slouch that was running ths
middle bar in Boar-eye Bend. If it
Wash. Hastings-wcll, what he don
know about the river amt wort
knowing regular gold leaf, XII
glove, diamond breastpin pilot Wasl
Hastings ID. We won't take an