The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-09-03
A HERO on THE pEEp
Jim can n,auage liin.ilsss sssS I ~
fhos, ty,Sr,fs,ycrcssnnkSp i,v d.rk G.

=
+ These woffswcrc spoken by dark !ca,
turcd and full boarded man to his companion
a swarthy fellow whose every look betok-
cued tho fierce nature withiu-as the two
asccndcd from the cabin of the Mary Inn,
Of Bitter Greek, and stepped quietly on the
q Iartcr deck. The older of the two took
Il few turns of the somewhat confined space
between the binuacle aud partly.use1 chew
Of tobacco which the second mate had left
Oh the port rail, and then went below to
consult his charts.
The situation was indeed critical one
for the beautiful vessel which rested like Il
swan on the hoaving surface Of the Miami
Canal. For three hours she had been be-
calmcd by balky mule. Frcighted with
cargo of golden hued pumpkins, it was
important that there should be no delay in
reaching the port to which they were con-
signed hence The shippers anxiety was
but natural The black clouds that were
scurrying across the southern sky told too
plainly that a storm was approaching, and
woe to the vessel it found unprcpared The
captain knew that in the present situation
Of his stately ship Il wreck was inevitable
should the storm strike her. 1t was an
anxious moment, but his check never
blanchcd. 1t couldn't unless washed and
Of this none who knew our hero had any
fear. CHANGING hastily at the compass, he
saw that the vessels proper course was cast
by South aud that the lead mule was at ast
two points away and on his beam ends The
storm was rapidly approaching, and the
ominous muttcring of Heavens artillery
was evidence enough that ere long the now
placid surface Of the canal would be lashcd
into white capped billows, any one of which
would cngulf the Nu,y Inn. TO thiuk
was to act with the captain. Hastily sciz-
ing glittcriug fog horn from its place in
the ratliucs, lie placed it quickly to his
mouth and shouted:
Tie up the cook"
1t was wise move. The cook was lia-
ble to have Mysteries when anything went
wrong. and frequently tipped over the sup
per.
"rhc cap'n's all right" said Coshocton
Joe to the ships carpenter, tall athl1tic
fellow from Bcrca, whose brawny arm had
often directed the fatal fsh.linc in pickcrcl
season.
AYE, aye, mcss,nate," was the response !;
"and though I'm re afcard We II nc'cr see
wife and children again or steal grapes in
the Sandusky Valley, it's not that will
shrink back or step ashore at a time like
this"
"Wcll said, my hearty" came in gruff
voice from the ships waist. sour bnnacle
lights may go out this night forever, but
let us die like Ohioans."
BY this time the first puils of the APP
preaching tempest were plainly to be felt :,
and the shrill notes of the boss hens on the
ncighboring farms showed that even they
had scented the danger and were seeking
shelter.
1t was terrible moment
The mule was apparently the only ami
mate thing that did not comprehend the
danger. lie lay obliqucly across the tow
path occasionally whiskng 4 fly from his
ear with ore Of his hind feet, but gave nc
other evidence of life.
Unless he could be gotten on his feet the
ship would be lost What could be done ?
While all were standing in Spccchlcss
amaze at the phenomenal cussclnrss of the
beast, slouch hat was seen 10 emerge from
the io:ccastle, quickly followed by Il small
boy One glance at the angry sky and an
other at the mule WAS enough. Quickly
lcaping upon the siop bucket, he Sprang
lightly from the larboard rail to the tow.
path and advanced toward the apparently
sleeping mule
The crew looked on with alnazcmcnt
With stcalthy tread he crept alongside of
the animal, and with one bound alightcd on
his back Like a fash he grabbed its tail
and gave that member Il violent twist In
Al 4 =. A. I
ing in seventeen directions at once. But he
was left. The boy was on his back holding
th1 lines With 4 grasp Of iron. With Il ter.
riblc yaw>haw Of rage the now thoroughly
iniuriatcl animal dashed madly forward
The strain tho cable WAS imuIcusc, aud
the good ships timbcrs groancd as il in az
ony. In 4 moment, however, she felt the
breeze created by the mule going ahead
and her cutwatcr cut the blue waters like Il
knife aS she kcclcd to starboatd and stood
away on her course.
The boy on the mule had saved her, and
when the captain saw him twist the animal
tail he said loud enough for all to hear:
THAT vas the act OF! a statesman and a
diplomat
Who was the boy? James \. Garfield
RESTORING WORKOUT FIELDS
Scvcral Eastern Agriculture! rupcl, have
recently attempted to solve the problem OF
how to restore Fertility to lands chat no long.
CT produce paying crops. One advises The
application Of one hundred loads OF barn
yard manure to an acre, or .ts equivalent o
commercial fertilizers. Another recommend
raising large crops ofryc, buckwhcat and