The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-02-17

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 I not deliberately expose
every one of the 800 souls on board
to destruction? True, the boat
might keep to her course during
the short space remaining to be
passed, merely from the rapid i'm
petus of her approach; but again,
she might not-and then?
looked at my dear wife inqulr-
ingly,
,'Stick to You post Rob-" she said.
mo, sirr | shouted back; 81
shall stick to my post; | shall stay
here till | run her clear on the shore,
or die first" :
"My brave Rob-my noble Rob'
murmured Mollie.
But alas, for my devoted Mollie.
alas for me. Not the pilot house
only but the entire deck around it
was now surrounded by flames. 1t
was too late to lower ourselves to
the deck below! The railing was
all ablaze.
NV arms, released frcm their
Guardianship over the wheel, clasped
Mollie close to my heart; but my
eyes and brain were busy seeking
for some mode of escape from death
that seemed each instant more GER
tain.
All at once my eyes rested Oh Che
paddle box. 1t had not taken ire
vet; the flying spray had saved IT,
| had only to dash across the name-
swept deck, and flung open a little
door in its side which afforded
ready access to the wheels to lower
nv wife beneath in safety. No soon
er thought of than done.
"Take my hand, Nollie," l said
''and run with me, We shall be
saved, after all Wrap your shawl
across your mouth. Now, now
rum
Leaping down on the deck, we
sped, hand in hand, to the paddle
box. | dashed upon the little door,
and, pushing Mollie inside, passed
in myself. and drew the door close
again, shutting out the eager flames
whose angry roar pursued us as we
dropped gently down into the shall
low water and crept out from be
meath the wheel.
Our appearance was hailed with
a shout of delight and relief, for all
had given us up rs lost, and we
must have been bat for the heaven
inspired thought of the wheel
house.
Now that the danger was over,
poor little Mollic tainted; and no
wonder. But she soon came out all
right; and, rs 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
q regular ovation followed up by
nlne dcfeaning cheers.
The island upon which the Mo
bilia had been beached was low,
sandy and uninhabited, altogether
not an inviting place for 300 peo-
pie, without a particle of shelter, to
pass half a day upon, yet even IN
this plight there were few 2rum-
blers in our midst.
There was no room in our hearts
for any feeling but that of thank
fulncss for our preservation from
fearful death, and after the peril OF
the last hour or two, seemed small
matter to wait patiently for the
coming of the relief boats that we
knew we're sure to arrive before
many hours were past.
Though some miles from any
large city, we knew that the burn
inc steamer must have been seen
from the farm houses scattered
sparscly along the river bank, ana
that from these notices OF the dls-
ter would be sent to the nearest
town. And so it was. Before the
niuhtfali several small steamboats,
arrived. and, after that, but few
hours elapsed before we found our
selves safely at home, and our adj
venturous 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 lace
and hands, threw me prostrate on 4
bed of sickness. When | was able
to report for luty again, two weeks
later, | learned that a noble git
from the Mobilia's grateful passeh-
ncrs-no less a sum than $4,000
lav in the bank awaiting my order
Not only this, but the steamboat
company had voted me an OLD med
al ana the Appointment of pilot OF
the finest steamer on their sea.
Years have gone by since my
brave wife and ! had so nearly
iourncyed out Of the world on our
wedding trip.
From pilot | have come to De
c,ptain and part owner in one OF
those beautiful floating palaces that
used to so excite my envy; but
never do | pass without slckenlng
shuIder the little Island where the
Mobilia won the stakes in the last
race-a race of fire against steam, OF
life against death
How to Cure EXaggerat1on.