The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-14
ONE OF THE MYSTERIES OF NIISSIS.
SIPPI RIVER NAvICATION.

ONE OF THE MYSTERIES OF NIIssIs-
SIPPI RIVER NAvICATION.
There used to be an excellent pilot on
the river, a Mr.. X, who was somnambulist.
1t was SAID that if his mind was troubled
about a bad piece of river he was pretty
sure to get up and walk in his sleep and
do strange things. He was once fellow
pilot for a 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 a very bad con-
dition. x. had seen the crossing s'nce E.
had, and as the night was particularly
drizzly, sullen, and dark, E. was con-
sidering whether he had not better have
x. called to assist in running the place.
when the door opened and X. walked in.
"Iet 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 could tell you how to do it,"
at is kind of you, and / swear 1 am
willing. / haven't got another drop of
prespiration left in me. l have been spin
squirrel 1t is so dark 1 can't tell which
way she is swinging till she is coming
around like whirligig."
So E. 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 a 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 knew how to steer a
steamboat, but that was another mistake
of mine"
x 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-
bic 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 wariiy into She 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 tremendous head of steam, went
/ swinging over the reef and away into deep
water and safety!
! E. let his long pent breath pour cut
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 no reply, and he added:
"Just hold her five minutes lor ger, part.
! ner, and let me run down and get a cup OF
| coffee"
!
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
lightniug?'
The next moment both men were fy.
ing up the pilot house companion way
three steps at a 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 g
"towhead'' which she was about to KNOCK
into the middle of the Gulf of Mexicol
By and by the watchman came back anG
said:
Didn't that lunatic tell you he wa.
asleep when he first came up here f''
NO"
"Wen, be was. I found him walking
along on top of the ratings, just as un
concerned as another man would walk &
pavement; and 1 put him to bed. Nov
just this minute there he was again, ava,
astern, going through that sort of tight
rope deviltry the same as before
well, think I'll stay by, next time he
has one Of those fits. But 1 hope he'll
have them often. You just ought to have
seen him take this boat through Helen:
crossing. / never saw anything so gaud,
before. And if he can do such gold-leaf
kid-glove, diamond-breastpin pilotin:
when he is sound asleep, what couldn't h
do if he was dead l''-Mdrk Train.
EXPLAINED.