Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-08-12


can cast languishing glances at each
other"
And so it came to pass that took pos
session of the Mobilia's pilot-house, my
heart glowing with love and pride
with love, for there, just below me, on
| the little forward deck, sat my sweet
bride; with pride, because the Mobilia
was one of the finest of the beautiful
floating palaces of the Mississippi, and
to pilot such one had for years been the
height of my ambition.
The steamer was fitted up with a
double cabin, one above the other, the
upper one opening upon small deck.
reaching out toward the bow, near the
center of which, on a raised platform,
was placed the pilot-house.
This deck was always occupied by
passengers, and this morning it was par
ticularly crowded; for the boat was
heavily laden with people, taking ad-
vantage of the beautiful weather to
make an excursion up the river.
Some rough fellows jostled rudely
against Mollie's chair, after awhile. and
she rose and passed down into the lower
cabin, to get a drink of water" she
whispered to me, as she passed; but /
suspect it was really to prevent the
bursting of the thunder cloud she saw
gathering oa my brow.
saw that the insolent fellows made
no attempt to follow my dear one, SO /
| gave myself up to my own happy
thoughts; and, looking out on the far
| distant, peaceful shores Cf the great
river, over whose placid bottom we
were moving SO swiftly, there rose from
my heart glad. silent hymn of rejoic-
ing.
But suddenly cry broke forth from
the cabin behind me, that effectually
changed the current of my thoughts:
Fire! fire! fireT
A horrible cry at all times, but most
horrible of all when it rings forth in
the midst of gay, unsuspicious hun
dreds, floating in fancied security in the
midst of the waters.
An instant's awe-struck silence sue
ceeded that awful cry, and then three
hundred voices, of men, women and
children, united in fearful, heartrending
shrieks for help.
Fret firei firer'
Ayei there was no mistake about it,
nor false alarm. No one could tell how
it had commenced, but there it was,
creeping along the roof of the upper
cabirs with the deadly flames greedily
tapping up every scrap of awning and
curtain they could find upon their way.
ever and anon darling long tongues of
flame down to the floor, to clasp the
| light chairs, and tables, and settees in
t,ieir fiery embrace.
AS well seek with a sieve to scoop up
the waters of the great river on which
the Mobilia foated as try to subdue the
roaling, devourlng enemy that had
seized upon the ill-fated steamer.
The people darted down from the
bIazing upper cabin to the forward deck
| below, where as yet the foe had made
but little headway, and there our brave
captain-who was that rara avis, the
fright man in the right place "-suc-
ceeded in partially quellins the panic.
keep quietr' he ordered" keep
| quiet, and stay just where you are, or l
will not answer for the lives of any of
you! The steward will provide every
one of you with life -preservers; but
there is no reason for any person to 60
overheard, not yet awhile. at any rate,
unless suicide is desired. Keep quiet, l
say Screaming won't frighten the fire
away. Pilot, head her straight for the
land, half mile ahead" (We were at
least twice that distance from the main
land on either shore) Engineer, put
on all steam-crowd her on! We will
run race with the foul fiend that has
boarded the Mobilia"
There was an instant's pause, and
then, with groan and a surge. with the
tim bers creaking and straining, and the
windows rafting as though in mortal
terror, the Mobilia gathered herself up
to run her last race.
Each passing moment the flames
crept on and on and on, never pausing
in their terrible march. Fortunately
| they leaped upward rather than down.
ward, SO that there was as yet but little
danger to the panic-stricken crowd on
the lower deck.
| But the pilot house was directly in
the track of the flames, and already their
advance guard was beginning to sur
round me, singeing my hair and eye
brows.
Suddenly there was murmur among
the people below, and the next instant a
light form flew up the ladder leading to
the little deck by the pilot house, and
before could say word, my precious
Mollie had thrown open the door, and
closing it again. stood a5 my side.
Mollie. Mollier' / cried. for
ACdN CA SAINT ~ DeiCh, ~ DetSh' OOA
you see how the flames are creeping to-
ward us here? Go, 60, my dearest, my
own true wife! Don't unman me by
making me fear for you. Go down
where l can feel that you have a chance
of safety"
"Rob Thorne!" she exclaimed, with
her eyes looking bravely, straight into
mine, am your wifeP"
"Surely. surely, thank Godw /
uttered. g But go, go!"
My post is here, just us much as
yours is,' she answered, firmly. :" Twill
stay here, Rob. and if you die will die,
too. We will make our wedding trip
together, my dear husband, even if it
be into the next world. Keep to your
duty, and never mind me, Rob. There
is hope for us yet, and if it comes to the
worst, whyn-and brave, sweet smile
crept round her lips-"we are still to-
gether, dear lovew
saw it was Of no use to urge her any
more, and besides something swelled in
my throat so that I 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.
ssThorppf,1 choy1tpd tna oapfain