The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-30
TUE PILOTS STORY.

not always lOiiOH-llfn ultllus dr
well. They were poor and | suspect
that fact had much to do with their
friendship, for opportunities were al
ways turning up for helping one
another ami | have often noticed
that. when near neighbors are well
of and have no need for mutual
help. there is very seldom any friend
ship between them there is more
apt to be jealousy and competi-
ton.
Our parents being such good
friends. it naturally resulted that
Mollie aud | should follow their ex-
ample. We went to school togeth
er, read together, played together
and. somehow, when Mollie was
eighteen and was twenty we agreed
TO travel together all the rest of our
lives, and were very happy IN that
agreement /; in fact, no other would
have seemed right or natusal, either
10 us OF our parents.
From the earliest days OF my boy
hood / had fonduess ior the water,
haunting the palatial steamboats,
that foated on the great Mississippi
river, Oh whose banks nestled the
city ia which we dwelt, and at the
period 10 which | am about TO refe.
had Just secared position as pi-
lot on a small freight steamer.
1t was not much OF position, to
be sure, nor was there much OF i
salary attached to it but, small as
it was, Moliie and decided that we
could make it answer ior two peo-
ple, neither of them eXravagant OF
unreasonable +; besides which l had
hopes OF better times 30 come, as |
had received words of commenda-
tion from my employers and prom
ises of speedy promotion.
So early one bright morning, hay
ing obtained a day leave OF fabsence,
Mollie and | were married, and step
ping into a carriage | hired for the
occasion we started of, having de-
cided on a days excursion TO a cele-
brated cave near by. this being al
tie wedding trip we could allow our
selves, not that we cared the least
however we were too happy to be
in the least disturbed by any short
comings of sum or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond
our own street when we were
brought 10 halt. \ messenger
whom 1 recognized as belonging to
our steamboat company hailed me.
Here's a note for you from the su-
perintendent."
Thus it ran
Am sorry to have to recall your
leave for to-day, but you must inn
mediately 90 on board the Mobilia,
which is ready to start up the river
The pilot is to i'll too attend toduty
and you are appointed to take his
place for the present" j"
There goes our wedding trip all
to smash, said | as Mollie read the
note.
"Why SO ?" she asked.
"You see | must go to the pilot
house of the Mobilia."
Very well" she replied. "We
shall Just 90 up the river instead OF
the cave Drive on, Rob let US go
down TO the wharfin state"
But YOU can't 90 in the pilot
house with me, little goose"
"Of course not but | can sit on
the deck outside" laughed Mollie,
and we can cast lansuishing giances
at each other"
And so it came to pass that took
possession of the Mobiiia's pilot.
my heart glowing with love and
pride with love, Tor there Just be.
low ME. on the little forward deck,
sat my sweet BRIDE F; with pride, be-
cause the Mobilia WAS one OF the
finest of the beautiful floating palac-
es OF the Mississippi, and to pilot
such a one had for years been the
height of my ambition.
The steamer was fitted uo with
. 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 rais-
ed platform, was placed the pilot
house. The deck was always 0ccu
pied by passengers, and this morn
ing twas particularly crowded, for
the boat was heavily laden with peo-
pie taking advantage of the beauti-
full weather to makea an excursion up
the river.
Some rough fellow jostled against
Moliie's chair after a while, and she
rose and passed down into the cab
in, ''te get a drink of water" she
whispered to me as she passed but
! suspect it was to prevent the burst
ing of the thunder clouds she saw
gathering on my brow.
| saw the insolent fellow made no
attempt TO follow my dear one, so
gave myself up to my own happy
thoughts, and looked out on the far
distant, peaceful shores of the great
river, over whose placid bosom we
were moving so swiftly, there rose
from my heart glad, silent hymn
of rejoicing.
But suddenly a cry broke from
the cabin behind nae thaI etfectually
changed the current of nay thoughts.
Fire fire fire !" A horrible cry
at all times, but most horrible of all
VIXEN it rings forth in the midst OF
gay, unsuspicious hundreds floating
IN fancied security in the midst of
the waters.
An instant's awe struck silence
succeeded that awful cry, and then
three hupdred voices of men, wo-
sncn and children united in fearful
heart-rending shrieks for help.
Sire fire FIRE y
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