Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-02-20


was beginning to think we had better
lie still until m orning or we might pass
the little steamer that Mollie was on
hoard of and thus lose her, for was
confident we could not be far from her
now The thought was terrible - me
and / expect / raved not . little 1t
was now nearly nine o'cls1k ana would
soon be dark. With :; sinking heart, L
ntes lopge~ and then anchor for the
NIGHT We knew the runaway boat had
rgc fuel enough to run much longer
than the time they had been gone, so
were confident that as soon as morning
broke we should be able to see her. In
a few minutes after I told the captain
my plan, he snatched the glass out of
my hands and directing it little to our
right, looked intently a few minutes.
BY, there she Is" he said. [ look
ed and surely it was the steamer; three
or four miles off yet, but it was I'M
doubleday she. No smoke was coming
from her funnel, and, as far as we could
tell In the darkness, the row-boat she
had in tow was gone. Ny God! what
had happened? Had ne murdered Mol
lie and then deserted the steamer Had
he taken her with him to prevent her
from directing his pursuers? or was the
villain still on board and prepared to
give us a warm reception? These
thoughts and thousands Of others passed
through my brain during the half hour
before We reached the Osprey. Nothing
would prevent me from boarding her
the moment such q thing was possible,
though Captain Webb advised me to be
cautious, as the fellow might fire at me
and do me injury that might prevent
my getting Mollie out Of danger as well
as help me into it. He acceded to my
wishes, however, and ran the tug right
alongside. | jumped aboard, rushed
down into the little cabin, and there
on the floor, in one corner, sobbing
as if her heart would break, was
poor Mollie! The rest Of it is
your story, Mollie." continued
Mr.. Bennett, after pause. II declare,
l did not suppose that simply telling
about it would get me so worked up. |
never shall forget whata load was lifted
from my heart when | saw you there,
safe and sound, though somewhat de-
moralized by fright" "S
Eyes, said Mrs. Bennett, who had
been an attentive listener to her hus-
bands vivid description, Fred didn't
tell quite all of his part; at least, if L
remember rightly, he was quite extrav-
agant in his expressions of Joy at find
ing me, and nearly annihilated me with
his demonstrations of affection. My
part of the story is not very interest
ing" she continued, "but as you seem
to be good listeners, will tell it. Mr..
Bennett had scarcely left me when the
boat started. [ thought first that by
some accident the steam had been
turned on. was thinking of making
heorine of myself, stopping it NTH
great presence of mind and SO on, like
the brave girls in books. [ was not
frightened much then, and crawled out
Of the cabin to see what / coulddo.
My knowledge of machinery is very
limited, and | made my way toward the
forward part Of the boat, having an in
distinct idea that the big wheel in the
pilot-house e found it was the pilot
house 'afterward) would some how stop
the engine if turned the right way. For
tllnately, [ made no noise. and ap-
preached slowly, as it was a difficult
matter for me to get about, there were
so many little obstacles and turns to
make. and tried several ways before
[ found the right one. Finally [ got
opposite the door Of the pilot-house, and
almost tainted with horror when | saw
man there, without coat or hat, and
his hair flying in the wind, with pro-
trudmg eyes gazing intently in the di-
rection we were going. .,..r....
[ think I was too badly frightened to
faint, and that is all thai saved me, |
suppose. | crawled back to the cabin
again, shut and bolted the doors, and
then ] guess [ did faint, for remem-
bered nothing more for a long time
The next thing l recollected was a ces-
sation of the puff OF the steam from
the engine, and the stoppage Of the
boat. Listening intently, | heard the
man walking overhead, and soon after
doing som ething to the machinery. In
q few moments the boat started again,
and we went on and on, it seemed to
me miles upon miles. Finally the
boat again stopped, and the man went
back to the engine as before. | waited
and listened, trying to distinguish what
he was about by the sound, but could
hear nothing. After many minutes mad
passed, [ summoned courage to look
out Of one of the cabin windows; it
was a gloomy prospect, nothing in
sight but water. | was afraid to leave
the cabin, and sat there waiting and
watching. Night was coming on and [
was very Respondent. When the boat
stopped L had little hope, but it was
fast deserving me. Again looking out
of the window, this time on the other
side of the cabin, | saw a row boat, and
in it sat q man who was, [ hoped and
prayed, my captor. There could be
no mistake; hatless and coatless, with
the same scared look on his face. it was
the man | had seen in the pilot
house, and he had not discovered mes
Twas saved Unlocking the cabin door
Gclimbed out and examined every nook
and corner in the boat to see if no one
else was on board, and of course found
no one; i was alone; IL was now quite
dark. | again went down into the lit
tie cabin, and it seemed SO very dismal
and lonesome that / cried violently.
Fred found me about that time, and
that is ALL"
"What about the captain, who was
stabbedg' asked /, "Ohi L forgot to
tell you," said Mr.. Bennett. 90 His
wounds were not serious or dangerous.
He was a feshy man and the stabs were
not mitch more than deep scratches.
They bled considerably and frightened
the women badly. Tbs captain was
about as much scared as any one. In