The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-23
ONE OF THE MYSTERIES OF MlSSI6.
SIPPI RIVER NAVIGATION.
To be continued.

There used to be IN excellent pilot on
the river, Mr.. <, who was somnambulist
It was said that if his mind was troubled
about bad piece Of river he was pretty
sure to get up and walk in his sleep ane
do strange things. he was once fellow
pilot for trip or two with George E.
on great New Orleans passenger packet
Late one night the boat was approaching
Helena, Ark; the water was low, and the
crossing above the town in very bad con-
dition. x. had seen the crossing since E.
had, and as the night was particularly
drizzly, sullen, and dark, E. was con-
sidering whether he had not better have
K. called to assist in running the place.
when the door opened and x. walked in.
"Let me take her, Mr.. E.; I've seen
this place since you have, and it is SO
crooked that reckon can run it myself
easier than I could tell you how to do it."
cit is kind Of you, and I swear I am
willing. I haven't got another drop OF
Precipitation left in me. have been spin
ming around and around the wheel like a
squirrel. It is 80 dark I can't tell which
way she is swinging till she is coming
around like whirlgig."
So E-t took seat on the bench, pant
ing and breathless. x assumed the
wheel without saying anything, steadied
the waltzing steamer with turn or two,
and then stood at ease, coaxing her little
to this side and then to that, as gently and
as sweetly as if the time had been MONDAY.
When E. observed this marvel of steer
ing, he wished he had not confessed
he stared and wondered, and finally
said:
"Well, thought I knew how to steer a
steamboat, but that was another mistake
Of mine"
< said nothing, but went serenely on
with his work. He rang for leads; he
rang to slow down the steam he worked
the boat carefully and neatly into invisi-
BILE marks, then stood at the centre OF the
wheel and peered out blandly into the
blackness, fore and aft, to verify his posi-
ton as the leads shoaled more and more,
he stopped the engines entirely, and the
dead silence and suspense Of "drifting'
followed; when the shoalest water was
struck he cracked on the steam, carried
her handsomely over, and then began to
work her warily into the next system OF
shoal marks; the same patient, heedful
use of leads and engines followed; the
boat slipped through without touching bot
tom, and entered upon the third and last
intricacy Of the crossing; imperceptibly
she moved through the gloom, crept by
inches into her marks, drifted tediously till
the shoalest water was cried, and then un-
der a tremendous head Of steam, went
swinging over the reef and away into deep
water and safety!
E. let his long pent breath pour out
in long, relieving sigh, and said:
"That's the sweetest piece Of plotting
that was ever done on the Mississippi river
I wouldn't have believed it could be. done
if hadn't seen it."
There was no reply, and he added:
"Just hold her Eve minutes logger, part
ner, and let me run down and get cup OF
coffee"
A minute later E. was biting into
pie down in the "texas,' and comforting
himself with coffee. Just then the night
watchman happened in, and was about to
happen out again, when he noticed e.
and exclaimed:
"Who is at the wheel, sir ?"
! "X-."
"Dart for the pilot house quicker than
lightning!'
The next moment both men were fly
ing up the pilot house companion way
three steps at jump! Nobody there !
The great steamer was whistling down the
middle of the river at her own sweet will !!
The watchman shot out Of the place again;
E. seized the Wheel set an engine
back with power, and held his breath while
the boat reluctantly swung away from
"towhead" which she was about to knock,
into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico!
By and by the watchman came back and
said:
"Didn't that iunatic tell you he was
asleep when he first came up here p
"No."
"Well, he was. I found him walking
along on top of the ratings, just as un-
concerned as another man would walk q