The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-19
The Steamboat Fire.

lie NltdlilDD1t L ire,
The broad Mississippi. down which
the noble steamer was gliding, cleaned
in the moonlight like Il pathway of
molten silver, the far-away shore upon
either hand had faded from sight alto
gether, and the deck was deserted.
Creeping like the dreaded snake, now
with lifted curling crest, then lying
closely to the bales of goods, and
writhing slowly between barrels and
bags, there came toward the open hatch
way a little thread of smoke. The boat
was on fire.
Suddenly there came cry, Il few hur-
ried orders rang out. the great whistle
sounded with long shrek, and the
captain, officers, and crew gathered in
fear and haste. Where did it begin ?"
Can it be overcome - rs there a
chance to save the steamer" The ques-
tons were in every mouth.
1--WE can only tigh. it, hoping for the
best. Call the passengers, head the
boat toward shore, and let every man
work for his lifer' and the captain set
the example by throwing off his coat
and springing to the force pump that
supplied water to the long hose. ''Who
will go below with the pipe 2
A dozen brave fellows sprang for
ward. one was chosen, and with rope
about his waist lie descended into the
hot, whirling cloud, his companions
meantime throwing buckets of water
upon him to keep his clothes from
burning while he directed the stream
from the fOrce-pump upon the fire. In
ten minutes he was drawn out, black
ened. singed, and strangling, AID an
other man took his place. But the
demon ragged on. From behind great
piles of freight the forked tongues of
flame leaped out, scorching the work
ers hands and faces; from barrels and
hogsheads of tar, the dense black
smoke rolled up and sutiocated them.
while the half subdued roar of the
angry element came to their ears with
a hoarse, eXultant sound; the steamer
was doomed.
And now the seams in the upper deck
began to swell and part. little pufis of
smoke oozed out and thin blue flames
danced and flickered above them. The
crowd 0f frightened and half-naked
passengers crept further and further
forward to avoid the sitting heat, until
they struggled in one dense mass at the
very bow; some cry others praying.
and few silently watching the onward
progress of the boat toward the shore.
For the pilot stood manfully at his
wheel, in spite of the whirling sparks
anu the drifting embers, the engines
were yet working, and twenty minutes
more would save passengers and crew.
But even while they spoke Of 1t,
when hope was dawning again, and
preparations were being made to save
what they could, there came a hideous
roar; dull explosion, a rush of flame:
and through the bloodred glare which
spread around they saw that the wheel
house was empty, and the fire alone
held possession there-the roof Of the
cabin hal been blown off, and the
helmsman was gone. At almost the
same instant the boat entered a swift
running eddy, her bow swung sharply
away from the longed-for shore, and
she swept out toward the open water
again, blazing fercely.
Unless some one can lash that wheel
a-starboard, We are lost, Willany man
volunteer?
The captain 5 voice sounded strangely
hoarse and dull \ shudder ran
through the listening crowd. There
was chance for life even yet remain
ing Were they We're; to enter that
bllndng cloud. {, brave those leaping
flames, was certain death; and no one
moved Harvard.
"Wil you die like towards? Is
there no man an ING you:' cried'the
captain.
'4is. massa: dar ISL
As the clear tones rang out over the
heads Of the people, little black fig
ure darted forward. nimble hands
seized a rope sure feet found the lad
der, aud before % word could be spoken,
before any one could prevent the child,
Jim stood half revealed in the fiery
furnace of the pilot-house, the great
steering-wheel was in his grasp and the
noble ship yet obeying her rudder,
turned back again, headed toward the