Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-04-21
THE PILOTS STORY.

We had grown up together, as II were, |
Mollie and |, our parents being near
neighbors, and-which does not often
follow-frm friends as well. They were
poor, and l suspect that fact had much to
do with their friendship, for opportunities
were always turning up for helping one
another; and have often noticed that,
when near neighbors are well off and have
no need for 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 Mollie and | |
followed their example. We went to |
school together, read together, played |
together and somehow, when Mollie was
Is and was 20, we agreed to travel |
together all our hves, and were very
happy in that arrangement in fact no
other would have seemed right or natural,
either to US or our parents.
From the earliest days of my boyhood
had fondness for the water, haunting
the palatial steamboats, that tloated on the
great Mississippi river, on whose banks
nestled the city in which we dwelt, and
at the period to which [ am about to
refer | had just secured position as pilot
on a small freight steamer.
1t was not much of a position, to be
sure, nor was there much of salary
attached to it but, small as it was ,Mollie
and decided that we could make it
answer for two people, neither OF them
sxtravagant or unreasonable besides
which | had hopes Of better times to
come, as | had received words of COM
mendation from my employers and
promises Of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having
obtained days leave OF absence, Mollie
and were married, and stepping into
carriage | hired for the occasion we
started off, having decided on a days
excursion to celebrated cave near by,
this being all the wedding trip we could
allow ourselves, not that we cared the
least however; we were too happy to be
in the least disturbed by any shortcom-
ings OF sum or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our
own street when we were brought to halt.
A messenger whom | recognized as
belonging 20 our steamboat company
halted me.
g Here's note to you from the superin-
tendent.''
Thus it ran:
Am sorry to have to racall your leave
for to-day, but you must Immediately go
on board the Mobilia, which is ready to
70 up the river. The pilot is too i'll to
attend to duty, and you are appointed to
take his place for the present
There goes our wedding trip all to
smash, " said as Mollie read the note.
"Why SO Z" she asked.
'You see must go into the pilot house
Of the Nobilia."
Very well, she replied. 1--WE shall
just go up the river instead of to the cave.
Drive on Rob- lot 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" laughed Mollie, "and we
aan cast languishing glances at each
other"
And soft came to pass that took posses
sion of the MobiiiaS pilot house, my
heart glowing with love and pride with
love; for there, just below me on the
little forward deck sat my bride with
pride, because the .Hobilia was one of the
finest of the beautiful floating palaces OF
the Mississippi, and to pilot such boat
had for years been the highest of my am
bition.
The steamer was fitted up with a
double cabin, one above the other the
upper one opening upon small deck
reaching out towards the bow, near the
centre Of which, on raised platform, was
placed the pilot house. The deck was
always occupied with passengers and
this morning it was particularly crowd
ed, for the boat was heavy laden will
people taking advantage of the beauti fu
weather to make an excursion up t h,
river.
Some rough fellow jostled agains
Mollie's chair after a while, and sh,
rose and passed down into the cabin
ito get drink of water, she whispered
to me as she passed but suspect it wa
to prevent the bursting Of the thunde
clouds she saw gathering on my brow.
| saw the insolent fellow made III
attempt to follow my dear one, so CAV,
myself up to my own happy thoughts ,ant
looking out on the far distant, peaceful
shores of the great river, over who's
placid bosom We were moving so swiftly
there rose from my heart glad, silen
hymn Of rejoicing.
But suddenly a cry broke from tn
cabin behind me that effectually changet
the current of my thoughts.
Fire fire fire 70 A horrible cry at al
times, but most horrible Of all when i
rings forth in the midst of gay, unsus
picious hundreds floating in fancie
security in the midst Of the water.
An instant's awestruck silence SUI
seeded that awful cry and then 800 voice
Of men, women and children united i
fearful, heartrending shrieks for help.
Fire fire fret
Aye there was no mistake about /
nor false alarm, No one could tell how it ha
commenced, utthere it was creeping alon
tbs roof ofthe upper cabin, with the deadl
names greedily tapping up every scrap
awning and curtain they could find upo
their way, ever and anon darling alon
tongues of flame down to the floor to elias
the light chairs and tables and settees i
their fiery embrace.
As well seek with sieve to scoop Il
the waters of the great river on which I'll
Uobihd tioated as to try to subdue I'll
roaring, deyouring enemy that had seize
spon the Inflated steamer.
The people darted down from IL
blazing upper cabin to the forward dec
below where as yet the foe had mad
but little Roadway, and there our BRAY
captain-who was that rara avis, 18th
right man in the right place" -succesde
in partially quelling the panic.
Keep quiet, he ordered, keep quie
and stay Just where you are, or | will N,
answer for the lives Of any of you. tt
steward will provide every one OF 20
with life preservers, but there is no reaso
for any person to go overboard-not y.
awhile, at any rate, unless suicide
desired. Keep quiet, | say. Pilot, hea
her straight for the land, half mi
ahead" We were at least twice Thu
distance from the main land on eth,
shore. Engineer, put on all steam
crowd her on We will run race wit
the foul fend who has boarded I'll
hobilia." "... -..--..
There was an instant S pause, and ther
with groan and surge, with the tin
bers creaking and straining, and tn
windows rafting, az though in morris
terror, the Mobilid gathered herself up /
run her last race.
Zach passing moment the flames crer
on and on, never pausing In their teri
BILE march. Fortunately they leaped NJ
ward rather than downward, so that theI
was as yet but little danger to the PAM,
stricken crowd on the lower deck.
But tbs pilot house was directly in tn
rack Of the flames, and already their &C