The National tribune., 1883-05-03
TIE FIREMAN'S STORY,
What Came of Going 10 Sleep in a
Steamboat Boiler.

over hv the shore?"
3Cersing! j could tell her pipes across the
river
"And son viii overhaul her?"
"Moa we though I tel ye, stranger, SO
sure as lnv. names Ben Blower, that that last
far-laar'i hove in the furnace has put 5ist the
smart chance of go-ahead into Us TO cut the
sFlame' from yonder pint or send our boat
80 kingdom come"
ssThe 6evil!n exclaimed bystander. who,
intensely interested in the race, was leaning
the while against the partitions OF the boiler
rooIn I've chusen a nice place to see the
fun, near this internal powder-barreL"
" Not 50 bad as if you were in it" coOily OBJ
served Il4n rs the other walked rapidly away
As II he were in. 1t! in what? IN the
boilcrgn
~Cortingi Don't folks sometimes go into
Il should think tbere'd be other parts of
the boat more comfortable.
ssThat's right: poking Fun at me at oncet;
but svais till we get through this brush with
the old Flame and III tell ye OF regular
fxin' scgape that man may get into III 5 true,
too. every word of it, as sure as my names
Ben Blower"
You have seen the Flame then, afore,
stranger Six wears ago. when new upon the
river ssc Was a raai out and outer, tell We
! was IS that time hand aboard OF her. Aes
i belonged 60 her at TIE time OF her great race
the blOw-fp bv which we lost IL. They made
a great fuss about it; but it was nothing but
a mere ix Of hot water after all. Only the
springiag OF a few rivets, which loosened
biler-plase or TWO and let out thin spirting
upon some uigreTs that hadn't sense enough TO
get out the way. Wen, the Collar took on
our passengers and we ran into SEnashers
Landing 10 repair damages and bury the poor
fools that were killed. Here we laid Tor mat
ter OF thirty hours or so. and got things TO
rights On board for a bran-Tlew start There
was some carpenter's work yet TO be done, but
the capsain said that that might be fixed of
list as wcl when We were under way--we had
worked har6-the weather was sour, and we
needn's do anything more jist now-we might
take that afternoon TO ourselves, but the next
morning he'd get up steam bright and airly,
and we'd an come cut new. There was no
Temperance society at Smasher's Landing, and
went ashore upon a lark with some OF the
hands"
/ omit the worthy Beaiamin's adventures
upon land, and, despairing Of fully conveying
his Language in its original Dorie force, viii
not hesitate to give the rest of his singular
narrative in nv own words. save where, IN a
few instances, i can recall his precise phrase
ol0gy. which the reader viii easily recognize.
The night was raw and sleety when gained
the deck Of our boat. The officers, instead OF
leaving d watch above, had closed up every
thing and shut themselves in the cabin. The
fre-rO0m only was open. The boards dashed
from tie outside by the explosion had not yet
been replaced. The floor OF the room was wet,
and there ysas scarcely corner which afforded
shelter rom the driving storm. was about
leaving the room resigned 10 sleep in the open
air, and now bent only upon getting under the
lee of some bulkbead that would protect me
against the wind. In passing out kept my
arms stretched forward 10 feel nay way in the
dark, but my feet came in contact with a heavy
iron lid; / stumbled, and, as ] fell, struck one
of nv hands into the 'manhole,' II think this
was the name he gave 10 the oyal-shaped open
ing in the head Of the boiler) through which
the SMITH had entered to make bis repairs
fell with my arms thrust so far into the aper-
ture that / received smart blow in the face
as it caEae in contact with the head Of the boiler
and did not hesitate TO drag my body after it
the moment / recovered from this stunning ef-
feet, and ascertained my whereabouts. In a
word, ] crept into the boiler, resolved to pass
the rest Of the night there. The place was dry
and sheltered Had nav bed been softer, |
would have had ali that man could desire; as
it was. slept and slept soundly.
] should mention though, that before clos
ing my eyes / several times shifted my posi-
tiOn. / bad gone first TO the furthest end of
the boiler, then again i crawled back TO the
manhole to put my hand out, and felt that it
was really still open. The waTmest place was
at the further end. where ] finally established
myself ana that knew from the first 1t was
foolish in me 10 think that the opening through
which had just entered could be closed with
out my hearing it. and that, too when no one
was astir but myself: but the blow on the side
of my face made me little nervous perhaps
besides, never could bear TO be shut up in
any place-it always gives NE a wila-like feel
ing about the head. You may laugh, stranger,
but ] believe should suif0cate in an empty
church. III I once felt that was so shut I'D in
af0re NOW just ike me or worse rather, much
worse-Iaeu that it made sort of furious to be
tied down 70 anything, yet so soft-like and con-
Trajectory in their natures that YOU might lead
them anywhere SO long as they did not feel the
string. Stranger, it takes all sorts of people TO
make 2 world: and We may have good many
of the worst kind Of white men here out West.
But have seen folks upon this river-quiet-
looking chaps, too, as ever you see-who were
so teet0tAiiy carankter2n kterous that theyd
shoot the doctor who'd tell them they couldn't
live when alling, and make die of it, just out
OF spite, when told they must get well Yes
fellows a. fond Of the good things of earth "a
YOU and l. vet who'd rush like mad right oVel
the gaBg-nlank Of life, If once brought to be
iieve that they had TO stay in this world
whether they wanted to leave or not. Thun
der and beesl if such fellow as that haf
heard the cocks crow as l did-awakened Il
find darkness about hiIa-darkness SO thicl
you L.lEst cut 3b VIII q Eu3Ie-le1Td OtAel
sounds toe, TO tell that it was morning ant
scrambiing to tumble for that manhole fount
ii, too blaek-closed-bla and even as tn,
rest Of the iron coffin around him. closed witt
not a rivet-hOle 10 let Gods light and air in
why-wby-he'd a swounded right down o.
the spot, as ] did, and / amt ashamed to owl
il 10 no white maR."
The big drops actually stood upon the poo
fellows brow, rs he now paused for a moInen
in the recital Of his terrible story. He passes
his hands over his rough features and resume
it with less agitation of manner.
How long may have remained there sense
less dou know. The doctors have since toll
me ID must have been sort OF ft,-more lik
an apOpleSy than swoon, FOR the attack fnall
passed off in sleep. Yes, ] slept / know that
for dreamed-dreamed a heap O things afor
j aMOke; there is but one dream however ths
have ever been able 20 recall distinctly an
that must have come on shortly before I +.
covered my consciousness. Ny resting plaC
through the night had been, Is have told vol
at the far end OF the boiler. Well / no
dreamed that the manhole was still Open anC
what seems curious rather than laughable
you take il IN connection with other things,
fancieG That my legs had been so stretched
elong walk / had taken tho evening befoI
that they now reached the whole length of ii
boiler, and extended through the opening
AT first in my dreaming reaections) il w.
comfortable thought, that no one could no
shut up the maahole without awakening m
But sooH il seemed as if nay feet, which we
on the outside, were becoming drenched I'm tl