Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-26
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: A Mississippi pilot knows the shape
= OF the river quite as well as he knows
the shape OF the halls in his own house
!. In dark night, when the appearance
: OF the river changes, he steers by the
shape that is in his head, and not by the
one that is before his eyes.
Mark Twain, In his .sLife on the
Mississippi" describes the daring deed
OF pilot, upon whose mind the shape
OF the river was so photographed that
he ran an intricate and dangerous cross
ing at night. We condense the narra-
tive:
There were several visiting pilots on
board, going down to ''look at the
river" All agreed that it would be
folly 10 attempt Hat Island crossing at
night.
An hour before sunset MIR. Bixby
took the wheel. At last somebody
said, with a doomful sigh, ssWeIi.
yonders Hat Island-and we can make
It,"
The sun dropped behind the horizon.
the boat went on. Inquiring looks
passed. We bore steadily down the
bend. More looks were exchanged.
lnsenslbly the pilots drew behind MIR.
Bi1by as the sky Garkened.
Mr.. Bixby pulled the cord. and two
deep, mellow notes from the bio hell
fioated of on the night. Then a pause
and one more note was struck- tn.
watchman's voice followed from the bnr.
ricane deck
"Labboard lead. therel Sta5poard
leadr'
The cries of the Ieadsman began 70
rise out OF the distance.
"M-a-r-k threel M-s-r-k tbreet O,or
ter less tnreel Quarter lessl'
Mr.. Bixby pulled the bell ropes and
was answered by faint jiDgIings far he
low IN the engine room, and our spaed
slackened.
Every pilot in the lot was on tba
watch now. Nobody was cam ana
easy but MIR. Bixby. He would pur bis
wheel down and stand OH a snoka
and as the steamer swung to her 10
ms invisible marks-for we seemal, |
to be Ii the midst of a wide and
gloomy sel-he would meet and fast,n
her there.
Out OF the murmur of half-audible
talk, one caught q coherent sentence
now and then such as
"Iherel shes over the first reef oil
rightl' OIL
Her stern's coming down Just exact.
ly right!'
"Oh, 1t was done beautiful beant;-
ful!' Au'i-
NOW the engines were stopped. and
We drlited with the current. PresentIv
L discovered a blacker gloom than tbs,
which surrounded u. 1t was tine beoJ
of the island.
We were closing right down upon If
We entered Its deeper shadow. Mr. L
BIxby stood by his wheel, silent. lutenr
ana all the pilots stood shoulder to
shoulder at his back.
Shell not make it, sonabodr
Inc water grew shoaler aud shoaIer
by the leadsman's cries, tili it WAS down
to
Eight and half Eobt :
feet! =. Seven aud !
MIR. BIxby said warningIy tbrouob !
his speaking tube to the engineer
AOH. /
AYE. aye, sirIr'
Seven and half Seven feetr S
Six and
we touched bottoml Instantly Mr.. /
biAoy set 10. of bells ringing and L
shouted through the tube
Not0, let her nave It-eyery ounce /
linen 10 his Partner, "Put her hard L
down. Snatch herI snatch bar ~ q
Inc boat rasped ard eround ba- vrov 7
through the sand, hung upon the oray I
Vi uisaseTr single tremendous instant. '
Ano tnen over she wentl And such a S
shout as went up at Nj. Bixby's back L
never loosened the roof OF q pilot c
house before! MIR. Bnby was a hero e
that night. Y
ruIIy 10 realize the marvellous pre- r
clslon required In laying the great i
steamer III her marks In thai mnrkv '
waste OF water, one should know these
acts: |
she must pick ber intricate wav K
'nrough snags and blind reels. and then e
shave the head of the island 30 cIo.eIv
Is To brush the ov, rhanging foliage with v
ler stern. II
AT one place she must pass almost a
within arms length of sunken and in Ii
'lsiDie wreck that would have pierced
ler mad she struck it, and DESTROYED
teamboat and cargo, and maybe a hun
lr,d and fifty human lives.
"But he's lightning pilotr' said one a
II our guests, and a criminally reckless 0
'ne to take such risk. G