Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-07
THE PILOTS STORY.


more than one wreck It happened after
the lighthouse was built, but the lights
were put ont. and put out on purpose,
too. It's well nigh forty years since, but
remember it as if it were but Yesterday
There was then little bit of settle
ment down near the mouth of tbs creek,
which you may have noticed empties into
the river Just above the cape There
biggest and most important man in the
North of England man, I've heard tell.
and every stick Of timber for miles
around Besides, at that time, Corlett's
was the only grist and lumber mill within
hundred miles in any direction Then
he owned a fast little schooner-about
the only one that traded to the settle
ment. making trips up and down the
river, between Quebec and the provinces.
Although Corlett was rich man for those
days, he was fond of sailing and had a
notion to run the schooner himself.
Charlie Corlett would have passed for a
handsome man anywhere and he was, by
long Odds the finest built man in the set
tlement. But Charlie had a terrible tenn
per. 14c WdS bO QSSu W uht1lR LIS ONl
way that when anything or anybody
thwarted him he was a regular devil in
his fierce, unreasonable anger.
When the lighthouse was built young
Frenchman from Three Rivers was put in
charge as keeper. He was a fine young
fellow, and if he was not so handsome nor
80 rich as Charlie Corlett he WAS liked a
good deal better by the boys.
~ 49,,
older than young Hector Baptiste, but, as
luck would have it. they both fell in love
with the same woman. Indeed, that was
hardly to be wondered at seeing that
Lizzie Lenox was the only pretty. mar
riageable white woman in the settlement.
Both men loved the girl well and sincerely
and both made her an honorable offer of
marriage. OF course Lizzie couldn't
marry both of them, and strange as
everybody thought it, she chose Hector.
The captain, as we all called Corlett, was
furious with rage, and he tried in every
way he could think of to induce the girl
to change her mind. He argued with her
in vain, and then threatened to use his
influence with the government to have
Hector turned out of the lighthouse.
Then he brought costly presents from
Quebec and st. Johns. which Lizzie re-
fused to accept The simple fact was
that Lizzie never liked the captain, and
the more he tried to win her love, the
closer she stuck to Baptiste.
l was at that time sailing with Capt.
Corlett and knew him pretty we'll One
day he came down to the settlement, after
a three weeks trip to Halifax, and found
that Hector Baptiste and Lizzie Lenox
were married. Although the captain
didn't say very much. 1 could tell that he
took it badly to heart, and saw a look in
his eyes that l didn't fancy very we'll
Two days later. towards evening, we
slipped out of the creek, bound for Mon
treal. We hadn't got more than mile
past the point when the captain ordered
the mate to down sails and lay to. He
said he had forgotten something and told
me to get out the yawl and run him
ashore. When we were in the boat he
says to me; Pierre" be says. Il saved
your life once, didn't r.
Eyes. cap" says land he did; he
jumped overheard for me when fell from
sloft two years before.
well" says he, lone good turn de-
serves another. doesn't it? Now you just
keep to yourself whatever you may hap
pen to see tonight. I'm goin' up to the
lighthouse to settle an old score"
''For Gods sake, cap" says !, 'don't
do anything you'll be sorry for"
That's all right he says; you
needn't be afear'd. I'm goin' to give that
French puppy piece Of mind. and per-
haps a licking. that's all.
And l think he meant no more than
what he said. so made no answer
was only lad, and an Indian at that-he
was white man and my captain Be-
sides, as he had reminded me, l owed him
my life
1t was about O'Clock of September
evening. could see the lantern lights
being lit IN the lighthouse. and knew that
Hector was there and probably alone-for
there WAS small cottage at
tached to the lighthouse, it was never
used as dwelling. Corlett jumped ashore
and bad me wait for him. In the still
ness could hear words that were said
Corlett spoke first;
You French sneak. want bit of
with you'll"
Those are hard names, captain" said
Baptiste, and don't like them"
"Oh. YOU don't, Ell? Well, you shouldn't
deserve them then. don't like having
Frenchmsn coming up here and
stealing away the woman had intended
to marry. That's what you did"
Capt. Corlett, you lie"
For calling me liar, take thati and
for playing dirt on me take that-and
thatl'
In moment there was q scuffie up in
that little room under the lantern-and
the next thing l heard was o splash in
the water.
thought it time to interfere, but as
ran the boat aground Corlett jumped in
and showed off. As opened my lips to
speak. he shouted in a terribly excited
Don't you ask any questions, and dom.
you say a word on ship board, or I'll shoot
you without warming
l confess that during that evening I
was coward and was afraid Of the cap
tain in his mad rage. We proceeded on
our trip TO Montreal. whittier we carried a
,argo, and started back light. In a week
We were again nearing the settlement 1t
vas q squslly night. though not very /
.ough, but dark as pitch The tide was /
-unnirg ont and the wind was from the /
vest
The captain had been drinking whisky |
,retty freely all through the trip. and he
vas in no shape to take the schooner into !
he creek even in the best of weather. |
The mate tried to persuade him TO keep
outside until the morning. mol" says he |,
I'm running this vessel I'm captain
lere, and you fellows viii do ae tell you,
+ III know the reason why" With
Whisky in his head and pistols in his peck
is, Corlett was a dangerous customer,
I'D we prepared to make the best OF a bad
OBJ We all knew that we were pretty