The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-13

in catastrophes, as in all else. makes them
living opponents of the proverb that "famil-
larity breeds contempt"
We started at midnight, and [ Was relieved
to see that the st. Louis, the opposition
steamer was still at her moorings, although
here smoke-stacks were in full operation and
her bell and whistle were going tufiously.
To retread old ground in the shape of de-
scribing Mississippi steamboat voyage does
not come within the scope of this paper; sui
flee it, therefore, to say that we reached
Memphis, which is about third OF the way,
without mishap, and without having even
sighted the smoke of the St. Louis.
OFF Blues Point, however, some miles be-
low Memphis, about midnight, there was
visible excitement in the neighborhood OF
the glass clearinghouse, and l. who was the
only passenger awake, went up to inquire
the reason.
Look thar, sir, astern," said the skipper,
pointing with the thumb OF his right hand
over his shoulder without turning his head.
THAT thar's the st. Louis; we oughter be
ten miles ahead of her; but them derned mig
gers were so powerful slow in getting aboard
them molasses at Memphis"
L looked, and beheld, amidst the dense
blackness of the night, what seemed to be
some unearthly fiery creature rounding the
point we had passed some five minutes pre-
viously-the two side lights representing the
eyes, the glare of her furnace a horrible
her huge paddles Stimulating her angry pant
ings TO come up with us.
''Keppins is spry, and that's a fact" said
the skipper lighting huge cigar, land L
reckon he won't spare an inch of timber to
send the st. Louis along; but the old Hab.,
she's got legs too, and eff Keppins beats u.s. as
he orter do, considerin' his boats new and
this ere has been runnin' five years, it'll be
by accident, IN thinkin'-"
Accident" 1 thought with a shudder,
that means TO say that this reckless fellow
is going TO send US along at full speed until
we either blow up or catch tire"-latter seem
ing to be the most probable to me, when L
thought that we were but a huge mass OF dry
woodwork heaped like spare fuel about
seething, fiery furnace.
However, here | was, so I quieted my fears
as best could. and even took sufficient in
terest in the race to take quiet bet with the
skipper that we would win.
Our furnace roared, our stacks poured
forth volumes of smoke and sparks, our huge
paddles thrashed the water until we shook
and Lhrobbed as if the boat herself was audi
bly, expressing her interest in the race.
See, sir, he's firing up" said the skipper.
LET her have it, boys" he roared down the
tube communicating with the engine-room;
-four more revolutions a minute and So a
head if we whip her"
Our craft seemed to bound over the sullen,
lines of the trees on the banks sped by us
like affrighted phantoms; still the frey eyes
and mouth of the st. Louis grew bigger and
bigger and the sound of her paintings more
and more distinct,
Our skipper was almost beside himself
Cigar after cigar he smoked and threw away;
he pulled his broad hat over his eyes and
Topped it back again. He plunged his hands
into his pockets and withdrew them with
jerk as if they had been stung all the while
muttering execrations and charitable wishes,
any single one of which, if it had taken eff
feet, would certainly have sent the ST. Louis
and all on board OF her to the bottom.
Suddenly, as the nose Of the enemy was
within steamers length of our stern in a
parallel line about 500 yards away, there was
a sharp click at our feet, followed by rat
ting of chains.
Steering gears snapped, sir" roared out a
voice from somewhere amid the black re-
cesses of our stern.
What the skipper said upon reception of
this news | need not repeat, but he subse-
quently roared down the communication
tube. in q voice of frenzy; 'Ston4her"
Our paddles stopped, but our way on was
considerable, and we drifted ahead for some
yards ere it was patent that the Habakkuk
E. Dodge was out of the race.
Whipped yer this time" was waited over
the waters to us from the st. Louis, which
had not framed his singing retort when
sheet of flame leaped into the air from where
the St. Louis was, followed by an unearthly
roar, then for a second or two dead silence,
then confused cry of agony from many di
rections.
Lower away the boats!'' yelled our skip
per, and although this was done smartly
enough, their progress from our boat to the
scene of the disaster was considerably de-
layed by the frantic exertions of our pas
sengers to get into them, for the fearful roar
and the blaze of LIGHT had awakened them,
and nothing but the absolute exertion of
force could make them believe for some
minutes that the accident had not happened
to us.
Horror-struck as I was, I could not resist
the temptation of putting out with one of
the boats on the errand of mercy. Our
darkies pulled with will, and, although the
scene of the disaster was now wrapped in the
blackness of night, the heart-rending cries of
the unfortunates still struggling for life in
the waters were quite sufficient guides.
We had pulled on board perhaps half
dozen men, women and children, and as our
craft was already almost gunwale deep in the
water, we were turning her round for the
steamer, when a faint voice, almost under
where l was pulling, said
Take US aboard-take US aboard, for PHYS
sake!"
"Ain't got room," said the coxswain, but
l. leaning over, caught hold of the poor fell
lows arm, and so dragging him along, we
went back as hard as the men could lay oars
to water.
Just as we arrived at the foot of the accom-
mediation ladder 1 felt the hold of the man
had saved relax; however, 1 stuck to him
with my other hand, and he was pulled up
with the other poor wretcnes, some of whom
seemed quite dazed and out of their minds
at the reality of being saved
The skipper came below with lantern
and threw It's glare on the face of him 1 had
saved.
Guess he's fixed" he said "Poor old
Keppins Him and hev had many a high
old time of it racin along this ere bit"
"Keppins?" l said. as / looked at the face
of the dead man when | last saw him his