The Washington critic., 1886-02-06

ton, who wanted TO get back to his
wife, and the assurance from Flournoy
that he could get through all right, de-
cided him. So just as they were
clearing away the supper things Ia the
cabin and spcading the canvass for y
dance, we backed out of Red Bluff aud
struck out into the darkness. ! went up
in the pilot house to talk to Flournoy,
but he was too busy to say much, II
was one of the worst nights ever saw
on the river; not light in sight except
the green lantern Of one little bayou
trader laying close into shore. The
wind was terrific and the boat laborel
heavily and steered badly. When we
left Bayou BARN, at half.past twelve, |
turned in. The dancing had ceased,
and the familiar putting of the scape-
pipes and dash of the paddlcwhecls
soon lullcd me to sleep.
81 had been asleep about an hour, |
lhink, when | was suddenly awakened;
| sat up in my bunk to listen; mo-
mcnt, and then loud and clear upon the
night the clang of the big bell on the
forocastle, tolling rapidly, knew in
moment what that meant-thc boat was
on fire. Hastily donning few clothes
] rushed into the cabin. II was full of
smoke, and lurid glare aft told me the
flames were already in the cabin. Major
Newton and his daughter came out of
their rooms and we all went forward. |
stopped in the Office and called up to
the pilot, Il will take care of her Al.
LAM"
God bless you jack ] will hold
the wheel till We strike land il il costs
me my life"
On the lower deck forward was
gathered some hundred and fifty pas
sengors and crew, shivering in the cold
night wind. The whole after part of
the boat was seething mass of flames
High they shot into the heavens,
greedily licking up the light painted
framework of the cabin and casting n
horrible glare upon the muddy waves
that splashed up against the bows rs If
reaching out for their prey. We were
then near the right bank of the river,
but 1t would be impossible to make a
landing there as the banks were fifty
feet high, perpendicularly, and the
only thing to do was 10 cross the river,
two miles, to the sand bar. Could we
make IL? If the pilot could hold the
wheel a few minutes longer all would
be well, but already the flames were
creeping along the hurricane roof to-
wards the pilot house. In the group
on the forward deck there reigned u
deathly silence; the roar of the flames,
the Kissing of the burning bales of cot
ton as they dropped into the river and
the fierce beat of the paddle wheels
were blended into one terrible noise to
the people who stood on the deck
watching the swinging lantern on the
shore and the flames creeping ever
nearer and nearer the pilot house. Oh,
how far away that swinging lantern
seemedl
"How slowly the boat did move, and
post the boat would drift out into the
river again and the people driven over
board one by one into the hungry,
muddy waters. The Captain mounted
bale of cotton and called out, "IIold
her steady, lad, for the light on the
shore"
AYE, aye, sirv' rang out the re.
sponse, clear and loud above the roar
ing of the flames.
"A little tongue of flame like n SER
pent glides up the side of the pilot
house. A thrill of horror runs through
the people. My God lived years in
minutes them Another livid streak of
fire darts up the side, tapping eagerly
the light paint work, then another and
another till the whole structure Is in
flames. The pilot had drawn the glass
doors tight and the flames seemed to
spit at the glass in their spite. Suddenly
there was jar, the boat had struck
the bari Then shout from the pilot,
house and with crash the pilot went
through the windows onto the hurri-
cane roof and took Il header into deep
water!" "Well?" 1--WE all waded
ashore, as II was only twelve inches on
the bar. The country people cared for
the ladies, while the men slept around
fires on the bank. II was just two
months after that that the Quickstep
laid over at Newton's Landing and the
crew Of the old Golden Wing attended
the wedding of their former pilot,
Allan Flournoy.
"The wreck of the Golden Wing
still lays on the bar, half buried in the
sand, and the mud turtles and cranes
hold high carnival over it. That
all. "
Roots knocked the ashes from his
pipe and drew sigh. II feel relieved.
/ was afraid you were going TO ring in
something sad ON us; our present po-
sition is narrowing enough in itself. \"
"NeXt on the programme, called
out Pastor, ''is story from Caziac OF
Boston Look out for something es-
thetical."