Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-06-21

oHou HG was WdIoHlbS VIC 0ooi0o
made by vessels which had gone down
close by where we were passing-"seven
of them within three miles, he said
"seven good boats. -
''How deep is the water?" ! asked ;
and was surprised when he answered,
"about one hundred and ninety feet.
After dreaming minute or two he
said:
81 don't reckon you ever heard of
John MilIen, did ye? John he was just
one of the best pilots that ever run a
steamer betwixt here an the gulf-good
an brave an true, an an honester man
you never seen, just as long as he an
whisky kept we'll away from each other;
but he never could STAN drinkin' no
how, an the fust he knowed he'd lost
his situation.
"Well, he laid around up to Louis
vile awhile, drunk when he had any
money an sober an hungry the balance
of the time. Byn' by he sorter walked
up, an he seen what fool he was
a-makin' of hisself. He knowed a fool
when he seed him, John did, just as
we'll as any of us, an he just went for
hisself right then an thar, an he lowed
he want goin' to travel on that there
road no further.
'.After he sorter Strengthened out he
went to man who owned a freight
boat an asked him to give him work.
John says, says he: 'I'll take her down
the river safe or I'll never come back
myself
The man TUX him at his word an
he gave him a job. Never drop did
John touch, an he brought the boat
along all right until one night there
was fog. He had been on watch till
he was most dead for sleep, John had,
an thinkin' everything was all safe he
turned in for little rest, biddin' his
man call him if the fog didn't lift.
But you see the man he left at the
wheel thought he knOwed everything
pears like there always will be jist
such ijots in the world-an' he put her
on her mettle an drove her through.
never calm John.
"He want gone long. but just too
long to save his boat, for the first he
knowed she was a sinkin'. Eff you ever
seen a crazier man than John Millen
I'm sorry. He found as how he couldn't
do nothin' to save her, an takin' down
a boat he jumped into it followed
by his faithful little dog.
"That dog-why I've hearn tell that
that little creature would prowl around.
an indin' piece of meat would carry
it in his mouth to poor John. That
was in the days back to Louisville when
John was sober an hnngry. John set
store by that there little black an tan,
John did.
"Well, John pushed out into the
middle of the river, an standin' up in
the boats eud, with the little dog
smilin' up at him an a wonderin
what he was goin' to do. He jist took
his pistol an blowed his own brains
OUT
80 how terribly sad ' we all ex
claim; and looking around minute
the pilot resumes:
'Yes. it was sad; powerful sad bu
the sorriest part of it is yet to come
Dyin' don't seem to be so much, though
I always did say never want to die by
my own hand-seems sorter onnatura
like; but to die and find no rest, that
what gets me. And they do say tina
any dark night John Millen can b.
seen standin' in his boat, that littl,
dog lookin' up at him kindly like, an
he jist ready to shoot hisself"
"Do you believe that ?" we ask.
E "Well now, I'll tell you," he said
81 hain't never seed hide nor hair of him
an I've watched out for him too; bu
there's Bill Mallory, as likely feller a
, ever dropped plummet in this her
river, an he says, says Bill, that he
: seen him time an agin, jist as natura
Q as life. Bill Mallory he says says SO
and Bill is likely lad. I watche
= out for him last night, but got ther
jist fifteen minutes too soon, or I'd
. seen him too
a $50 you do believe it," | said.
: "Well, Bill Malony says he's see
e him, an l reckon Bill is prett
IS straight. was the reply.
v As far as the eye could reach the cy
!. press and the cottonwood stand, th
g long gray moss draping their bare arm
y and swing in the wind which come
e soughing through the trees. Is
chanting requiem for those who ma
,r be sleeping fathoms below :?
g By and bye, we catch a glimpse
b the lights at Natchez. For the fir
time our luck has failed US; all 9th,
ID places of interest we have reached /
r daylight, but Natchez said to be IL
le prettiest, cleanest city of them al