The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-06-09
"SEHDS.v

The night was dark as q stack OF black
cate, ahd the river Was falling, and the
good steamer Belle OF Memphis was
steadily ploughing her way down the
Mississippi. s
Joe Butts was the pilot at the wheel,
as it was his watch. In fact, it was his
watch all the time just then, as his mate.
Ranney, was confined to his bed In the
texas by raging fever.
As 1t was after midnight, and all the
passengers and ioungers had retired to
rest, there was nobody in the pilot house
with Joe Butts hut his cuby Fred Sell
siler, known ON the boat as ''Seeds."-
Fred was we'll grown young fellow Of
twenty, but, being cub pilot only, was
looked upon and spoken Of as hoyx -
$50 you are going to run Big Cypress
Chute, Joe," observed Seeds.
"How did you know II ?"
because We ought to be about there
now, anil because it's as dark as wolf's 8
mouth ahead"
"Good for you. Do you remember
how We ran it the last tripf"
"Headed for bit of cloud under the
moon, that turned out 10 be the big cy-
press on the false point, and struck of
catty.cornered when the point showed
up"
ad to see that you've got such o
good memory. There is no moon TO-
night; bnt the big cypress is there yet.-
Do you see il p
"Narry cypress"
"Climb up to the end of your ewes
and gel onto it. The waters sigh
lower than it was then; but the cut of
saves dozen miles, and / am going
Through. The bar is right opposite the
big cypress, and I'm hoping there's sew
len feet over It now. II not. must
shove her through for all she's worth y
| Joe had rung to slow the boat, and
then to stop her. and the wteel ceased
to move, and the Belle of Memphis was
drifting with the current down upon o
solid wall OF blackncss that seemed to
be thick enough to stop her at any mo.
ment.
The pilot was feeling his way.
Soon he rang to go aheat, and then
tapped the big bell To call out the star.
board leadsman. and another tap called
the larboard leadsman.
They veie not visible from the pilo,
house; but their singsong tones made II
known that the water was thoaling.
"We are coming to 1t now, "Seeds,' =
said Joe Butts. when we are out oi
The chute you can take the wheel, and
will 90 down and get good Sleep"
"Cau help you. Mr.. Butts 7"
mo. l can't trust you here. This
is ticklish work" !"
Suddenly the pilot whirled the spokel
rapidly, and the feel Of the big boat
showed that she was making the turn.
Suddenly he uttered a faint cry, his
|gHipselaxedy - and he fell backward ON
the floor.
Seeds did not ask or look to see what
was the matter. but jumped to The wheel
strained his eyes TO catch the big cypress
caueh. it, and steadied the craft to heI
work
The captain came running up TO tht
hurricane deck in his shirt sleeves.
"What are you doing, Joe, and where
are wef he shouted.
"Joe is dead or fell in fit, and w
are in Big Cypress Chute" answered ths
cub.
"Murdered Moses Is that yot
Seeds9 Where's Ranney ?"
"Below, sir"
A big boat IN dangerous place, fillei
with valuable freight and far more val
uable load Of passengers. and the whole
outfit 10 charge Of boy!
] The captain could not say word, bu
hurried to the .exas to hunt Ranney. :
The leedsman's cries announced th,
rapid shoaling of the water and the con
sequent nearness to the ugly bar, wher
the captain. burst into the pilot hous,
feebly followed by Nick Ranney, who
was so wild with fever that he vas utter
ly incompetent for any kind Of duty.
"Do you know What you are doing
boy ?" 6ercely demanded the old man.
| sBe quiet, will youf"
| "Why, Seeds, you'll bust this boa
wide open inside of FIVE minutes
"Shut your mouth or get out Of here !
| A pilots word is always law, and tn
cub was clearly the pilot in charge.
Seeds kept his eyes glued on the biz
cypress as the singsong halls came up il
startling succession.
Observation-Disclosures feet'-'sev
en.an a.half"-"seven feet"
Seeds fairly shrieked down the tub
to the engineer
"Give it to her. Sam! Give her ever,
ounce you've gotl Give her ten mil
lion pounds"
"Six an'-a--
!. Bumpl
The big boat struck the bar with
shock that sent shiver through ever
timber, and threatened to knock the lif
out of her.
i But the steam was roaring out Of tn
4 escape pipes, and The great wheels urge'
TO their utmost action just in time, wer
going ahead for all they were worth, AM
the boat, grosning and trembling, crawl
ed over the bar and slid into the dee
water bevond.
The c.b rang to slow, and tapped To
big bell for the leadsman to 60 in, ant
The belle of Memphis" sailed out o
the chute into the broad river.
"I,'s all right, now, Cap" said Seeds
"Send up the other cub. and call me i
time to make the next landing
Joe Butts had heen stricken dead b.
heart disease, and Seeds had made
name for himself from New Orleans I
; st. Louis -Drake's Magazine.
A Sad Career.
The divorced wife of Bonanzs mi
lionaire recently came to mourntt