The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-08-25


crept round her lips-"we are still to-
gether, dear lovel"
| saw it was Of no use TO urge her any
more, and besides something swelled in
my throat so that | could not utter
word, so / Just gripped the wheel hard
and looked right ahead, though every
thing looked very dim just then, and my
| devoted darling stood calmly at my
side, watching the flames, that were
creeping closer and closer upon us, leap.
ing around the pilot house like hungry
demons impatient of their prey.
"Thorpe" shouted the captain.
"come down. Lower her and yourself
over the rail. Well catch you. You
very near the shore now, and the rest
We'll take our chances for"
1t was an awful temptation. l knew
that, did follow the captains advice,
both Mollie and / would be safe, for
was a good swimmer, and should the
boat not reach the shore l could save
! her and myself; but then, if did this,
would | not deliberately expose every
one of the three hundred souls on board
to destructionP True, the boat might
keep to her course during the short
space remaining to be passed, merely
from the rapid impetus of her approach !;
but again, she might not-and thenP
looked at my dear wife, inquiringly.
"Stick to your post, Robp" she said.
"No, sir!" l shouted back; 81 shall
stick to my post; shall stay here till l
run her clear on the shore, or die first. q"
"My brave Rob--my noble RobP"
murmured Mollie.
At last, just as the glowing tongues fo
flame began to reach in through the
windows, crash and shiver passed
from stem to stern of the noble steamer,
and with q sharp quiver and a shake,
her bow ran high up on the shelving
beach, and in less time than it takes to
| tell it every man, woman and child
sprang from the heated decks and were
saved.
But, alas, for my devoted Moll e! alas,
| for me. Not the pilot-house only, but
the entire deck around it, was now sur.
rounded by flames. 1t was too late to
lower ourselves to the deck below. The
| railing was all ablaze.
My arms, released from their guardian
ship over the wheel, clasped Mollie close
to my heart; but my eyes and brain
were busy seeking for some mode of es-
| cape from the death that seemed each
| instant more certain.
All ut once my gaze rested on the pad
dle-box. 1t had not taken fire yet; the
| flying spray had saved it. l had only
to dash across the hame-swept deck and
| fling open little door in its side, which
afforded ready access to the wheels. to
| lower my precious charget to the water
beneath in safety.
No sooner thought of than done.
"Take my hand, Mollie," said, ''and
run with me. We shall be saved, after
all. Wrap your shawl across your
mouth. Now, now-runP
Leaping down on the deck, we sped
hand il hand, to the paddle-b box. l
| dashed open the little door, and, push
| ing Mollie inside, passed in myself and
drew the door close again, thus shut
| ting out the eager flames, whose angry
roar pursued us, as we dropped gently
down into the shallow water, and crept
out from beneath the wheel.
Our appearance was hailed with q
shout of delight and relief for all had
given Us up as lost; and we must have
been but for the heaven-inspired thought
of the wheel l-house.
Now that the danger was over, poor
little Mollle tainted; and no wonder.
| But she soon came out all right; and as
| the people began to find out that the
brave little girl" as they called her,
was really a bride of only few hours,
and that we were on our wedding trip,
| there was regular ovation, followed up
by nine deatening cheers.
The island upon which the Mobilia
| had been beached was low, sandy and
uninhabited, altogether not an inviting
place FOR 800 people, without particle
of shelter, to pass half day upon, yet,
even in this plight, there were few
gr1mblers in our midst.
There was no room in our hearts for
any feeling but that of thankfulness for
our preservation from a fearful death,
and after the peril of the last hour or
two, it seemed small matter to wait
patiently for the coming of the relief
boats that we knew were sure to arrive
before many hours were past.
Though some miles from any large
city. we knew that the burning steamer
must have been seen from the farm
houses scattered sparsely along the
river bank, and that from these notice
of the disaster would be sent to The
nearest town.
And so it was.
Before nightfall several small steam
boats arrived, AMI after that, but few
hours elapsed before we found ourselves
safely at home, and our adventurous
wedding trip at an end.
But its results were not ended by any
means The terrible nervous strain
had endured, combined with the severe
burns on my face and hands, threw
me pIostrate on n bed of sickness.
When | was able to report for duty
again, two weeks later, l learned that a
r.5Dte- gift from the Mobilia's grateful
passenger less a sum than two
thousand dollars-lay in the bank await
ing my order.
Not only this, but the steamboat COM
pany had voted me gold medal and the
appointment of pilot of the finest
steamer on their line.
Years have gone by since my brave
wife and had so nearly journeyed out
of the world ON our wedding trip. From
pilot have come TO be captain and part
owner of one of those beautiful floating
! palaces that used so to excite my envy
but never do pass without sickening
| ,hudder the little island where the Mo-