The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-12-16
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tfnm tlas NsstsAsfg uasalA.l
II makes me tcr kinder sad. said tlls
pilot. pointing 10 the hank a. the boAI
was plowlag the earrent near Lake Prov
ldenoe Is miles above Vleksburg. whep
they buried him, 20 years ago, the grave
wss s dozen rods from the water, bat %,
ireacherous carrent has eaten and eaten
st the bauk iill another week will loai
poor Jim away.
( The passengers saw tbs end Of a eoiliu
sticking out Of the bNnk, siA or eight
inches above water. 1t Is louely spot 90
the river, with no sound TO break the des.
olation except the beat Of paddle-whoel,
as the steamers hurry along.
II was Jim Whalen, continued the pl.
LOT, as the passengers turned TO him for
an explanation. lie had wife aud babe
10 Orleans, and wa. q straight man. b'
knew every suss aud bar la the river,
and he eonid pot his boat through any
shuie in the darkesl niEht yoa ever saw
Jim didni bras, and some OF the pilots
called bin a chicken. Chickenl lie was
the biggest eagle that ever flew ap OF
down this creek, aud that ar coffin
| proves H.
| lie showed the boat out little, an
swered signal from an ascending steam
er, aud continued;
was cub ihen--iust learning the
business of Jim. You never seed map
who'd do his level best for boy ss kind
ly as jim would. No swearing or cuss.
ing or cutting, but as quiet aud sof, spo-
ken as born lady. When they laid him
away down there couldn't have felt
worse ii the old man himself had been
pitched into heaven.
lie asked for chew OF tobacco, aud
having settled il against his lett check he
said:
Over there by that gloomy oanebrake,
ut midnight, nigh on to 20 years ago, the
Gen. Taylor took fire. was asleep IN
the texas, Jim at the wheel, aud hum
dred passengers were asleep. How The
fire started no one knew. The whole boat
blazed right up in minute, seorchipg
and roasting people afore they had heard
the alarm. Whewl but wasn't it awful |
| went overheard with nothing on but
my cotton, and my heels bIistering, aud
passengers aud crew tumbled after.
The pilot rolled up his sleeve to exhib.
1t the marks OF the flame, and then con-
tinued: e}
Not oil of 'em. Thirty or forty ian for
ard like wild-fre, and afraid to jump.
The Texas was atire before jumped,
aud as Hoated in the river | saw the red
tongues of fame leaping around the pi-
dollhouse. Jim was thar, and thar he
staid. The water was up, the current
was heavy, and the wind blowing sgin
US, keeping the fire back. If Jim went
overheard IL was goodbye TO 80 human
soals, lie saw II, and that's where glory
covered him from head to foot. lie held
her dead level up-she ran till the en-
gines stopped-till half the boat was
burned--till the devilish flames burned
every hair off his head, and roasted him
as the women serve piece of meat.
When the engines stopped, the boat
drifted down, and ut last help came from
other steamers. Jim was picked up in
the river, swimming like duck, but
died in five minutes.
There was long pause, and then be
added:
Jim Whalen's backbone saved all them
folks. lie died afore they could thank
him. There wasn't passenger or deck.
hand who didn't cry like child but all
they could do was TO bury the poor roast.
body aud press the sods down lightly.
Year by year the river has been eating
It's way to the grave, and, while we shall
miss It, wen all feel as II the big river
had more right to the coffin OF brave Jim
Whalen than tue shore. It's only hi'
bones lying there only his dust whicl
will float away; for though the gate o.
Heaven is narrow il was opened plenty
wide enough for Jim Whalen to 20 II
with all steam on.