The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-14
ABOUT MARK TWAIN.
How-hhe Great Billiard Player Becnme q
Mississippi Pilot.

In order to obtain an account Of how Mark
Twain became a pilot, the reporter yesterday made
inquiries among old steamboat men. and rewarded
by receiving information 10 the effect that the great
humorist had first served pilot under Can't II. 4.
BiSby, who IL now the commander the Anchor line
steamer City OF Baton Rouge.
As the reporter heard this he turned his foot.
steps in the direct Of the evee and boarding the City
of Baton Rouge found Capt BSby seated on the boiler.
deck with his little blue eyed daughter In his lap and
engaged IN assisting her to number OF picture
blocks winch were scattered over the bottom Of chair
when the reporter apprUaci,-L and stated the object
of his visit the old Captains eyes Frightened with the
recollection of former days.
Well sir" he sand, the first time that met Marx
TWAIN or knew that such person existed WIS IN iel7
Al that time was the chief pilot the Paul Jones' a
boat that made occasional trips from Pittsburgh
Orleans. one day while were coming down the
Mississippi long angular, hooserlike young fellow
whose limbs appeared TO be fastened viii, lesther
hinges entered the pilot house and IN peculiar drawl.
ing voice said, Good mawnin SIR Don't you want to
TAKE tr pert Young fellow and teach i'm how be er
40 sir there ia bother about IT than IL worth
49,. wlth YOU Wnud, mister I'm printer by trade,
@ Ss 10 tSr y WIN ra Ill., "PI 1 ." p
er '"isr , good pilot, cans" like The river
pulls nsrn o" Ain er S% s %s to ask my ana sn
soths, yoall teach me how To be sr plot "' ''N -
The only way IL for money!
W w"I m TII ina ARE y y@ s% a to enarss
bteWnllkths! ne! me- got $40, hut I've got
nVe los III heokuk Iowa AMI 1900 acres of land ~
Tennessee that " worth two bits any time, YOU
can nave That II you want it
- told hun that did not for hs land aud after
tAlkhH white he agreed TO pay SlWl IN cash, SlSD
twelve months and the balance when lie hccan. pilot
lie WAS WIN me for long time, but touk
Sasohh rils with other pOts At the brtakng out Of
tns WAR he vas Tys1ar poi on lls Aon<STds and
remained on that boat until she WAS turned into Con.
irltrate ram, when he got through the lines, and going
10 iihli'ba, No, his native town. enlisted ~ three
months volunteer IN the Confederate army under Gen
Ifce Al the expiration Of the time VI hiH enlistment
ne went ont To nevada where hE brother Orion Clemens
was hlhng the position OF Secretary Of the Territory
out there he dTltte into iournnlis AMI gradually dc.
Neluprd the humOr which has since made him famous
pa You ever hear from him after he went out Westr
Inquired the reporter.
Yes he used Ia write, AMI let know Of His where.
ahouts On his from the Holy Land he me
letter which contained ms wedding GHrd. The word.
ing of the letter near Hs can remember FOL.
lows Thirty tons pf paper have been used ~ publishing
sal" than an, book published except rErle Toms
Cabin The volumes sell from ~ To -. according IN M
ish aL get on" half the prunL Not 40 bad for scrub
pilot ~ NJ How do yuu run lum rnnt-a sonof sun
A.-',Hs him in this city gaze you considerable pleas
lire did II nOtf'
Yes; had not seen him in hftscn ycar. Snd when |
met him It brought back old days
90 Has he changed much y
NO. very little His hair It is true II SOmew hat
rvcrsd and his face has few more wrinkles IN It. but
he has the light IN his eye the nose. which
always appears as II II was expecting TO smell some
thing bad aud the rivkctty swing Of his limbs he
hal when FIRST met him In the pilot house Of the Paul
Jones, twenty hNe years ago"
Did he hetray much humor a. u cub pilntW
Yes; he was always drawing out dry Jokes, hut then
we did not pa any attention Ia him MAS talking IL
HIM yeAterdsN about tile river and lie told me that on
he left"