The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-09-01
THE PILOTS STORY.


TO do with their friendship, for opportu-
mites we're always turning up for helping
one another, and have often noticed
that when near ncighbors are well off,
and have no need OF mutual help, there
is seldom any friendship between them.
There is more apt to be Jealousy and
competition.
Our parents being such good friends, it
naturally resulted that Molly and fol.
lowed their example. We went to school
together, read together, played together,
and somehow, when Molly was eighteen
and twenty, we agreed to travel togeth
er all our lives, and were happy in that
arrangement; in fact no other Tould
have seemed right or natural, either to
us or our parents.
From the earliest days Of my boyhood,
had cyinced fondncss for the water,
haunting the palatal steamboats, that
hoated the grca. Mississippi River, on
whose banks nestled the city in which
we dwelt, and, al the period TO which
am about to refer, had just secured
position rs pilot on a small freight steam
cr. II wa; not much Of a position 10 he
sure, nor was there much OF q salary at
tached to it. but small AS it was, Molly
and | decided that we could make it
answer Cor two people, reither Of thcm
cxtrAvagant or unreasonable besides
which, had hopes Of better mes to
come, as | had received words Of com
menda,ion from my employers and prom
ises Of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having
obtained q days leave of absence, Molly
and were married, and stepping into 4
Carriage had hired for the occasion, we
started off, having decided on n days
excursion TO 4 celebrated cave near by
this being all the wedding trip we could
allow ourselves; not that we cared in
the least however-wc were too happy
TO be disturbed by any shortcomings Of
beyond our own street, however, when
VIC were brought to a halt
Here is note TO you from the super
intcndcnt.'
Thus it ran Am sorry to have TO re-
call your leave to-day, but you must i'm
mcdiatcly 60 on board the Moblia, which
is ready to start up the river. The pilot
is too i'll to attend to duty, and you are
appointed to take his place for the pres
ent."
There goes our wedding-.rip all tc
smash" said / as l read the order to
Molly
why so ~ she asked.
You see, must go to the pilot-house
of the Moblia7
very we'll" she replied, we will
just 90 up the river instead Of TO the
cave. Drive on, Bob let Us 20 down to
the wharf in state
But YOU can't go into the pilot-housc
with me, little goose"
"Of course not; but | can sit on the
deck outside laughed Molly, "and we
caii look at each other"
And so it came about that took pos
session Of the Mobilia's piloi-house, Ily
heart glowing with love and pride-witil
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 floating palaces" oil
the Mississippi, and to pilot such one
had Tor years been the height of my au-
bition. The steamer was fitted up with
double cabin, one above the other, the
upper one opening upon small deck
reaching out toward the bow, near the
centre of which, on a raised platform
was placed the pilot house This deck
was always occupied by passengers, and
this morning it was particularly crowded
foi the bca: was heavily laden with pee.
plo taking advantage OF LA beautiful
weather T.. masa an excursion up the
river. Suddenly cry broke forth from
the cabin behind me
Fire Fire! Fire p
A horrible cry ut all times, but most
horrible of al. when it rings forth in the
midst OF gay, unsuspicious hundreds
tioating in iancicd security in the midst
OF the waters. An instants awe struck
hot nc, !
then three hundred voices of men. wo.
men and children united in fearful. heart.
rending shricks for help.
Fire fire fire %
Aye, there was no misiake about it
no false alarm. No orc could tell how
1t had commenced, bat there it was.
creeping along the roof of the upper
cabin, with the deadly flames greedily
tapping mp every awning and curtain
they could find upon their way, ever and
anon darting long tongues of flame dow n
to the floor, to clasp in the light chairs,
and tables and scttees in their fiery en-
brace. The people darted down from
the blazing upper cabin to the forwa I'd
deck below, where rs yet the foe had
made but little headway, and there our
brave captain-who was that rara aris.
the right man in the right place-suc.
ceeded in partially luelling the panic.
Keep quiet" he ordered Keep qui-
ct 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-preservers but there is no
reason Tor any person to 90 overheard
yet awhile, at any rate, unless suicide is
desired. Keep quiet, say Screaming
won't frighten the fire away. Pilot,
head her straight for the island half n
mile ahead" 1--WE were at least twice
that distance from the mainland on ri.
thcr shore.) Then he shouted to the
engineer: "Put On all steam--crowd
her on. We will rGn race with the
foul flend that has boarded the Mobilia."
There was an instant's pause, and then
with groan and surge, with the tim.
bers creaking. and straining, and the
windows rattling as though in mortal
terror, the Mobilia gathered herself up
to run her last race.
Each passing moment the flames crept
Oh and on, never pausing in their terrible
march. Fortunately, they leaped up.
ward rather than downward, 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 surround me
singing my hair and eyebrows.
Suddenly there was n murmur among
the people below, and the next instant
light form flew up the ladder leading 10
the deck by the pilot-house, and before I
could utter word. my precious Molly
had thrown open the door. and clooinoo