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

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run her clear on the shore, or die first. !"
"My brave Rob-my noble RobP"
mnrmured 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 a sharp culver 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 at once my gaze rested on the pad
dle-box. 1t had not taken fire yet; the
! flying spray had saved it. / had only
to dash across the fame-swept deck and
fling open little door in its side, which
afforded ready access to the wheels, to
lower my precious charge to the water
beneath in safety.
No sooner thought of than done.
/ 'sTake my hand, Mollie," said, land
run with me. We shall be saved, after
all. Wrap your shawl across your
mouth. Now, now-run"
| Leaping down on the deck, we sped,
hand il hand, to the paddle-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 house.
Now that the danger was over, poor
little Mollie 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 bride of only few hours,
and that we were on our wedding trip,
there was a regular ovation, followed up
by nine deafening cheers.
The island upon which the Mobilia
had been beached was low, sandy and
uninhabited, altogether not an inviting
place for 300 people, without particle
of shelter, to pass half day upon, yet,
even in this plight, there were few
grumblers in our midst.
There was no room in our hearts Tor
any feeling but that of thankfulness for
our preservation from fearful death,
and after the peril of the last hour or
two, it seemed a small matter to wait
patiently for the coming OF the relief
boats that we knew were sure to arrive
before many hours wfre 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 nightfaIl several small steam
boats arrived, an | 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 p1ostrate on a bed of sickness.
When | was able to report for duty
again, two weeks later, learned that a
noble gift from the Mobilia's grateful
passenger less 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 l 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-
bilia won the stakes in the last race-a
race of fire against steam. of life against
death.