The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-24
THE PILOTS STORY,

bOrs, and-whlch does not always follow
firm friends as we'll. They were poor and
suspect that fact had much to do with their
friendship, for opportunities were always
turning up for helping one another; and l
have often noticed that, when near neigh
bors are we'll off and have no need for mu-
tual help there is very seldom any friend
ship between them; there is more apt to be
jealousy and competitions. =
Our parents being such good friends, it
naturally resulted that Moll1e and followed
their example. We went to school together.
read together, played together; and, some
how, when Mollie was eighteen and I was
twenty we agreed to travel together all of
our lives, and were very happy in that ar
rangement; in fact, no other would have
seemed right or natural, either to us or our
parents. GO ~, ~ a..
From the earliest days of my boyhood I
had fondness for the water, haunting the
palatial steamboats, that foated on the great
Mississippi river, on whose banks nestle d
the city in which we dwelt, and at the Pc
Rod towhich am about to refer had just
secured aposition as pilot on small freight
steamer
It was not much of position to be sure,
nor was there much of a salary attached to
it; but, small as it was, Mollie and I decid-
ed that we could make it answer for two
people, neither of them extravagant or I'M
reasonable; besides which, had hopes Of
better times to come; and had received
words of commentator from my employ
ers, and promises of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having OBJ
tanned days leave Of absence. Mollie and
We're married, and stepping into a carriage
/ had hired for the occasion we started off
having decided Oh days excursion to a
celebrated cave near by, this being all the
wedding trip we could allow ourselves, not
that we cared in the least, however; We
were too happy to be in the least disturbed
by any shortcomings Of sum or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our own
street when we were brought to a halt. A
messenger whom recognized as belonging
to our steamboat company hailed me.
Here's note to you from the superin-
tendent''.
Thus it ran:
Am sorry to have to recall your leave for
to-day, but you must Immediately go on
board the Mobilia, which is ready to start
up the river. The pilot is too ill to attend
to duty, and you are appointed to take his
place for the present.
"There goes our wedding trip all to
smash, " said I, as Mollie read the order.
why SOP" she asked.
LOU see uusC ~ 1ilCO IAe pAlOc MUSE
Of the Mobilia."
Every WE'LL" she replied. eve shall Just
go up the river instead of 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" laug hed Mollie, land we
can cast languishing chances at each other.
And so it came to pass that took possess
sion 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, be-
cause the Mobilia was one of the finest of
the beautiful floating palaces of the Missis-
sippi, and to pilot SUCH a one had for years
been the height of my ambition.
The steamer was fitted up with q double
cabin, one above the other; the upper one
opening upon small deck, reaching out
towards the bow, near the centreo 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 advantage of the
beautiful weather to make an excursion up
the river.
Some rough fellows jostled against Mol
lies chair after while, 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 to prevent the
bursting Of the thunder cloud she saw
gathering on my brow.
I saw. that the insolent fellows made no
attempt to follow my dear one, so gave
looking 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 cry broke from the cabin
behind me that etfectually: changed the
current of my thoughts:
Fire! fire! fire!" A horrible cry at all
times, but most horrible of all when it
rings forth in the midst of gay, unspspicious
hundreds floating in fancied security in the
midst of the waters. -,
An instants awe struck silence succeeded
that awful cry, and then 800 voices of men,
women and children united in fearful,
heartrending shrieks for help.
Fire! fire! firer' s~..,,.
Aye! there was no mistake about it, nor
false alarm. No one could tell how it COM
menced, but there was creeping along the
roof Of the upper cabin, with the deadly
flames greedily tapping up every scrap of
awning and curtain they coald find upon
their way, ever and anon darling long tongues
of flames down to the floor to clasp the light
chairs and tables and settees in their fiery
embrace. 80:
As we'll seek with sieve to scoop up the
waters of the great river on which the
Mobilia foated, as to try to subdue the roar
ing, devouring enemy that had seized upon
the Inflated steamer sn..{ ~ -.
The people darted down from the blazing
upper cabin to the forward deck below,
where as yet the foe had made but little
Roadway, and there our brave captain-who
was that rara avis "the right man in the