The Iola register., 1885-05-08

Mrs. Worth and Ellie. Both seemed
pleased to meet FUN, and Ellie told her
mother of the visit to the printing of
fee.
s'What funny name you have, "
said Effie. lit isn't all the one you have.
is it?''
"Oh. no." responded Fun. My right
name is Alsfum Mills. l was nick
named Fun long ago, 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 large
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 on the
ocean Spray:
"A racei'
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 crept slowly up along side her
fiyal.
The Captain of the ocean Spray"
then became furious.
in, th, fpr har olsf Iv,
with 'eml'
How the great furnaces lapped up
this liquid food! How the devoted ves-
sci groaned and trembled under the
burden she was carrying!
Many of the pas sengers 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 tiercely.
One poor lady who was accompany
ing the body of her little child to some
point down the river, bowed her head
low on the little white casket and
moaned
''Oh! why do they do this! Oh! my
baby, my baby"
Just then a wild cry rang out:
Fire THE boat is on fret" All!
then there was q 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
full explosion-an awful shock! Then
the shattered and burning wreck
floated helplessly on the water!
The burning wreck cast lurid glart
over the waters. The cries for help
that arose upon every hand were heart
In the meantime, the Belle
of st. Louis" had come quickly to the
scene of the disaster, and was rescuing
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 mt
once, but cry for help close by at
tracted his attention. An object tioated
past him. 1t was woman. He grasped
the mass of floating hair as the head
sank for the third time, and drawing
the unconscious burden TO him. and
lifting the head upon his shoulder. be-
held the pallid features of Effie Worth!
Then began the struggle with death.
How heavy his small burden became as
the tide fought with him. But he tIead
the water bravely. and called for help
Must he go down with his precious bur:
den? Just rs hope and strength were
failing his face felt some willows brush
past Eagerly grasping a branch, he
pulled himself and Eflie to the shore.
Many were the lives lost in that aw-
ful wreck. Many were the sad scenes
Great was the sorrow and
he anguish. The poor mother who had
wept so Internationally over her dead
baby was found lying dead upon the
shore. and in her arms she clasped
little white casket. In the cruel waters
Of the Mississippi mother and child met,
70 be no more parted.
MIR. and Mrs. Worth were saved from
he wreck. and thanks to Fun, were
reunited TO their darling Eilio.
We can not say how grateful they
we're to Fun. for they never told us.
They must have been very grateful in
Iced, for they did much to make his
ife happy and bright.
Mr.. Old'ng recovered and was able 10
make a great success out of his Demo
rat. He is still living, and publishing
l newspaper.
Fum-well s.ex-Governor'' Mills, rs
you may call him. is also publishing
great daily paper in great city.
We called on him the other day, and
n the course of a friendly chat he said:
Here's card my wife gave me over
.wenty years ago; rather old-fashioned
isn't it?'' thread: