The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-02-02
JIM WHALEN'S DEATH.
The Story Of II Brave Pilot---How he DIE

The Story Of II Brave Pilot---How he Died.
cit makes me feel kinder sad," said
the pilot, pointing to the bank as the
boat was blowing the current near Lake
Providence, seventy-fve miles above
Vicksburg. "When they buried him,
twenty years ago, tho grave was dozen
rods from the water, but the treacherous
current has eaten and eaten at the bank
till arothcr week will float poor Jim
away"
The passengers saw the end of coffin
sticking out of the bank, six or eight
inches above water. It is lonely spot
on the river with no sound to break the
desolation except the beat Of paddle
wheels as the steamers hurry along.
"It was Jim Whalen," continued the
pilot, as the passengers turned to him
for nm explanation. He had wife
and babe in Orleans, aud was straight
man. He knew every snag and bar in
the river, and he could put his boat
through any shute in the darkest night
you ever saw. Jim didn't brag, and
some of the pilots called him chicken.
Chicken! He was the biggest eagle
that ever flew up or down this creek,
and that mr. coffin proves itl'
He showed the boat out little, an
swered signal from m ascending steam
er, and continued:
"I was O cub then-just learning the
business OF Jim. You never seed a
man who'd do his level best for boy rs
kindly as Jim would. No swearing or
cussing or cutting, but as quiet and soft
spoken rs born lady. When they laid
him away down there I couldn't have
felt worse if the old man himself had
been pitched into heaven"
He asked for a chew Of tobacco, and
having settled it against bis left cheek
he said
"Ovcr there by that gloomy cane
brake, at midnight, nigh on to twenty
years ago, the General Taylor took fire.
T was asleep in the texas, Jim at the
wheel, and hundred passengers were
asleep. How the fire started no one
knew. The whole boat blazed right up
in minute, scorching casting people
afore they had heard the alarm. Whew
but wasn't it awful I went overheard
with nothing on but my cotton, and my
heels blistering, and passengers and
crew tumbled after"
The pilot rolled up his sleeve to ex-
hibit the marks of the flame, and then
continued
"Not all of 'em. Thirty or forty ran
for'ard, wild like, and afraid to Jump.
The texas was afre before jumped,
and as I fioated in the river saw the
red tongues of flames leaping around
the pilot house. Jim was thar, and
thar he staid. The water was up, the
current heavy, and the wind blowing
agin us, keeping the fire back. II Jim
went overheard it was goodbye to fifty
human souls. He saw it, and that's
where glory covered him from head to
foot. he held her dead level up-she
ran till the engines stopped-till half tho
boat was burned-till the flames burned
every hair off his head, and roasted him
as the women serve piece of meat.
When the engines stopped the boat
a.i.". Il down, and at last help came from
other steamers Jim was picked up in
the river, swimming like u dGct; but
died in five minutes.
There was long pause, and then he
added
"Jim Whalen's backbone saved all
them folks. He 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 roasted body and press the sods
down lightly. Year by year tho river
has been eating is way to the grave,
and while we shall miss it, We'll all feel
as if the big river had more right to the
coffin Of brave Jim Whalen than the
shore. It's only his bones lying there
only his dust which will float away for
though the gate Of heaven is narrow, it
was open plenty wide enough for Jim
Whalcn to go in with all steam on. -
IIcksbuy Herald.