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

ately go on board the Mobila, which is
ready TO start up the river. The pilot
is too i'll to attend to duty, and yoTDare
appointed to take his place %or the
present"
"There goes our wedding trip all to
smashl" said /, rs Mollie read the or
der.
"Why soO" she asked.
"You see must go into the pilot
house of the Mobilia."
Every WE'LL" she replied. eve will
just go up the river instead IF to the
cave. Drive on, Rob; let us go down to
the wharf in state"
But you can't go in the pilot-house
with me, little goose"
"Of course not; but / can sit on the
deck outside" laughed Mollie, land we
can cast languishing glance5 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 a 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 a 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 Mcllie's chair, after awhile. and
she rose and passed down into the lower
cabin, " to get drink of water" she
whispered to me, as she passed; but |
suspect it was really to prevent the
gathering on 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 Of the great
river, over whose placid bottom we
were moving so swiftly, there rose fro m
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! fire!" 300
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 fancfed 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
shlieks for help. --A
Fire! fire! firer'
Aye! 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
cabin, with the deadly flames greedily
| tapping up every scrap of awning and
curtain they could find upon their way,
ever and anon darting long tongues of
flame down to the floor, to clasp the
| light chairs, and tables, and settees in
their fiery embrace.
AS well seek with sieve to scoop up
the waters of the great river on which
the Mobilia floated as try to subdue the
roaring, devouring enemy that had
seized upon the M-fated steamer.
The people darted down from the
blazing 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 sue
ceeded in partially quelling the panic.
"Keep quiet" he ordered" keep
quiet, and stay Just where you are, or
will not answer for the lives of any of
you! The steward will provide every
one of you with life. e.pTeservers but
30, fD no
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" owe 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." A
There was an instant's pause, and
then, with a grOan and surge, with the
timbers 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
W ard, 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 a 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 a word, my precious
Mollie had thrown open the door, and,
closing it again, stood aJ my side.
"Mollie, Molliew l cried, " for
heavens sake go back, go back! Don't
you see how the flames are creeping to-
ward us heTeP Go, go, my dearest, my
own true wife! Don't unmaIrSme by
making me fear for you. Go down
where can feel that you have a chance
of safety"
&" Rob TFAnpe!" she exclaimed, with
haY avas lOOEinO braVplU STRAIGHT intO