The Osceola times., 1885-05-23

Mrs Worth and Emo Both seemed
plea<ed to meet Fun. and Ellie told her
mother OF the visit to tho printing Of
fice.
What q funny name you have"
said Ef6e, lit isn't az the one you have,
is it?'
"Oh, no." responded Fun Ny right
name is Alsfum Mills l was nick
named Fun long age, and have al
ways retained it."
The conversation was here interrupted
BY an unusual excitement on the boat
Our little party went ON deck, and soon
learned the cause Of it. The other largo
steamer, the Belle Of St Louis, (which
had followed them out OF that city, was
crowding on steam and coming up rap
idly. Her decks were lined with pas
sengers, who seemed to anticipate an
exciting event.
Soon word passed from mouth to
mouth among the passengers ea the
Ocean Spray:
"A racer
Only too true. Orders were given BY
the Captain to crowd on every pound
OF steam. The furnaces roared, and the
heavy. black smoke poured increasingly
from the smoke stacks.
Meanwhile, the crew on the -'Belle"
were not idle, and, under their efforts,
that craft creps slowly up along side her
rival.
The Captain Of the Ocean Spray"
then became furious.
Throw in the turpentine barrels! In
with emf"
How the great furnaces Tapped up
this liquid food! How the devoted yes
sci groaned and trembled under the
burden she was carrying!
Many of the passengers now became
greatly alarmed, and attempted to in
tercede with the Captain. But he was
furious with liquor BY this time, and
shouted his commands more fiercely.
One poor lady who was accompany
ing the body Of her little child to some
point down the river. bowed her head
low on tho little white casket and
moaned:
"Oh! why do they do this! Oh! my
baby, my bsbyH
Just then wild cry rang out:
Fire" The boat is on fire" All!
then there was scene of terror!
But that was not all. While the half
crazed passengers rushed hither and
thither, death laid his hand on the
fated craft!
The boilers burst! There was . fear
f,,1 axnlno;an axy<,I .hnoIf Thar
the shattered and burning wreck
foated helplessly on the water!
The burning wreck cast lurid glare
over tho waters. The cries for help
that arose upon every hand were heart
rending In the meantime, the Belle
Of St Louis" had come quickly to the
scene of the disaster, and was rescung
many from the burning wreck and from
the water.
Fun and his companions were thrown
into the water. Fun was not injured
by the shock, and was at home in the
water He struck out for shore at
once. but a cry for help close by at
tracted his attention. An object flOated
past him. 1t was woman. He grasped
the mass of floating hair as the head
sank for the third time, and drawing
the uncon nscious burden to him, and
lifting the head upon. his shoulder, be-
held the psllid features Of Efiie Worth!
Then began the struggle with death.
How heavy his small burden became as
the tide fought with him. But he tread
the water bravely, and called for help.
Must he 60 down with his precious bur-
den? just as hope and strength were
failing his face felt some willows brush
past Eagerly grasping branch, he
pulled himself and Efiie to the shore.
Many were the lives lost in that ar.
ful wreck. Many were the sad seems
witnessed. Great was the sorrow al d
the anguish. The poor mother who h,d
wept so Internationally over her dead
baby was found lying dead upon the
shore, and in her arms she clasped a
little white casket In the cruel waters
of the Mississippi mother and child met,
to be no more parted.
Mr.. and Mrs.. Worth were saved from
the wreck. and thanks to Fun, weye
reunited to their darling EfIie.
We can not say how grateful thSy
were to Fun, for they never told e.
They must have been very grateful n
deed, for they did much to make bis
life happy and bright
Mr.. Gliding recovered and was able 10
make a great success out of his Des.o-
crdt. He is still living, and publishsIg
q newspaper.
Fum--well "ex-Governor" Mills, -
you may call him, is also publishing .
great daily paper in great city.
We called on him the other day, tad
in the course of a friendly chat he sgd:
Here's card my wife gave me o. er
twenty years ago; rather old-fashios I'd
printing, isn't it?" 1t read: