New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-14

| war; when it cOmes-if it ever cOmes-will
not find us unprepared. 1t will tind us in.
deed at home, but secure and well guarded
at all points, and even able to do some
trifing service ito our friends. As for the
men, it is vain to cry for more men from
are too we'll employed where they are. in
every region of the habitable globe.-Lon-
don Times.
An Incident of Life ON the ''Oid 'lassa.
| sipp."
As you all know, it was in 1859 that
made my famous 'triumphal' start from
the good old city of St. Louis. Missouri on
the steamer Bully Arabia, for New Orleans.
and now l propose to briefly inform you
why never planted foot anywhere within
500 miles of New Orleans.
The story ia of still another case of cool
ness in the midst of wreck and disaster,
and principally relates to pilot Wylle"
| The Bully Arabia, Captain Sam Bowen
| (well known at st. Louis and ali up and
down the river). left st. Louis with ''all
below" full of hay in bales.
We got off about the middle of the after
noon all right, and went bowling along
down the river at slashing rate. As long
| as we had daylight we did well-daylight
and the pilot who was then at the wheel.
Some time along in the night Pilot Wylie
was called up to take his watch. He came
up as full Of Bourbon as the lower deck
was full of hay, but kept his mouth shut
and looked wise.
Captain Sam Bowen was, as all know who
have ever travelled much on the lower Mis-
sissippi, one of the mildest and most even
tempered men in the world He was also
very polite and gentlemanly in his inter
course with all of his officers and men. 1t
appeared to be positively painful for him to
swear; but sometimes, IN the discharge of
his duties, it became necessary for him to
do that violence to his feelings.
Captain Bowen did not discover that
there was anything wrong with Pilot Wylie
when that gentleman came up to take the
wheel.
We went booming along down the river
at q great rate. carrying a full head of
steam, and with Wylie at the wheel, turning
it back and forth in the most sedare and
exemplary manner.
Presently we sloshed into the left bank Of
the river, against some trees, and tore out
the barber shop.
Up rushed Captain Bowen, crying: "Mr.
Wylie, how is this! You have been into the
bank, and have raked out the barber shop
"Yes." said Wylie, II heard a sort OF
rip as bore off from shore"
On we went again for eight or ten miles,
when we slapped into the right hand shore
and tore out the pantry.
Captain Bowen ran up to the p!lothouse
in hot haste well, MIR. Wylie,' said he,
''you are playing the deuce tonight
YES" said Pilot Wyiie, did you ever
hear such rafting Of dishes in all your
lif.!''
Without deigning q reply Captain Bowen
turned and went below, while Wylie went
Oh with his "screwin' on her up as Yam
kee passenger termed the business OF steer
ing the vessel.
Away we went, bowling and screeching
down the river, with the black smoke
streaming back from the chimneys.
Wylie was industriously engaged in
'screwin' on her up" and in rim ging tine en-
gineer's bells-''tap, tap, tap now this
way ard now that-oniy stopping Occa-
siOnally 20 slip small flask out of his
pocket and take "nip."
Presently the engineer sung ont from
below through the speaking tube;
MIR. Wylie, no man in the world could
make out those bellst'
"The bells are ali right mind the bells,'
senteniously answered back Pilot Wyie.
A few minutes after, as we went zigzag-
ging down the river, we "picked up a snag
that ripped nearly the whole bottom out of
the boat.
There we stuck rapidly settling in about
eight feet of water.
Captain Bowen bounded o,ne, up to the pilot
y
YES" SAID Wylie, II think so. Do you
see them bales O. hay atlOating out OF herr"
''She's down in eight feet of water, Mr..
Wylie," said the captain.
About that. l should think, SIR" said
Wylie.
After making this last remark. Pilot
Wylie ''Et out over the 'front.'" ana going
down into the "texas,' got his fiddle when
he sat down anu went to playing the
"Arkansaw Traveller" His business was
finished, and he was INDUCING II his favor
lite recreation.
A nice mess we were in, However, about
an hour after the snagging of the boat, We
head some distance down the river a
fearful howl from steam whistle.
The Glaucus! the Glaucus!" cried several
OF the passengers IN a breath. mo other
boat has such whistle. Ii is the Glaucus
coming up"
This was not the old Glaucus as she was
burned at st. Louis IN 1852 or 1853, but was
a new Glaucus. built by the same owners
and provided with a second edition OF the
same unoarthly whistle which rendered the
old Giaucus famous all along the MissIs-
sippi,,
Well, we made signal OF distress. and the
Glaucus came alongside. when we pas
sengers were soon transferred to her decks.
"Mr. Clemens" said Captain Bowen. ad
dressing the pilot of the Glaucus-Samuel
~. Oltiubus, HOW DcCIcr known as Mark
Twan-"Mr. Clemens, l can hardly under.
stand how you could recommend Mr. Wyie
TO me "a being good pilot"
II recommended Wylie sober, not Wyiie
drunk" dryly answered M. Clemens.
"Well, you see what he has done with the
Bully Arabia. He has killed her, sir"
Il see" said Mr.. Clemens. .'but he does
not appear to be utterly broken hearted. az
hear him playing the same old tune mat
ne used to play when l was cub under
him"
The Glaucus safely landed us at St. Louis,
ana never again attempted the trip 10
New orleans, nor ever again met Pilot
Wyile who, for aught / know to the con
srary, may still be seated in the texas" OF
me wrecked Bully Arabia, saving away az
ne 'Arkansaw Traveler.'- Ijrgjnio En-.
c'piIse.
" ent for One Night and >taid Ten Years.
Going over the Lowell railroad the other
lay was fussy little man who Was in eyl.
lent doubt as to which of two New Hamp.
shire cities it would be advisable for h,tn to
stop over night. Hequestionei the conduc
or as long as that worthy would sion 70
listen, and then turned to the other occu.
pant OF the seat, thick necked. short /
haired party, and queried.
rs C- good place to stop at'''
"fuS atpo urnyulc6 bia