Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-04-24
JACK PRICE.
Only Deck Hand, but He Gave
His Life for Others.

| suppose not one in thousand will care
to read deck hands story. People call US
coarse and vulgar. Granted; but our work
makes US so. There are ladies. fancy, who
will shudder at the thought of such a story,
and gentlemen who will dip into it carefully,
expecting to find string of oaths. Judge
| for yourselves whether this tale of Jack
Price, my partner, is fit for refined ears.
No need to tell you of deck hands life.
A man that beats about in the cold and rain,
handling sleety ropes or balancing himself
on the gunwale of coal barge with twenty
! feet of swift water under him, is not apt to
be pretty, kid-gloved, soft-voiced fellow.
| If his face is red it is because midwiuter
winds ON the Ohio are not good for the COM
plexion. He deals with rough work and is
rough himself; but his heart is just about
as apt to be right as that of Senator or a
Judge.
We started from Pittsburgh on the
George Hammond in July, Jack and 1.
There was a big river, and we made good
time to Louisville, where we shipped on the
Charley Roberts, bound for Orleans. To
say we found it hot on the Lower Missis-
sippi gives no idea of the weather. Half
the crew were unfit for duty. One morn
| ing there was a whispering among the boys.
whats up, Jackl' said !.
"Steve Robinson's down with swamp
fever"
The boys gathered in knot around the
capstan. Before long there was a panic
among them The mate shook his head and
| looked thoughtful.
"The man must be put ashore" said the
captain.
"No, STRIP cried Jack Price
"Who are youl"
"Plain Jack Price; but Steve don't go
ashore. It's an outrage to think of it,"
"Who's to nurse him!'
"Me!"
do you know what swamp fever isl"
"Do know any thing"
| Doubtful
"pll nurse Steve, tell you! We've made
| five trips together, and If he's put ashore
here in the swamps go with him"
"You it Is, said the captain, turning on
his heel. "Not another man goes into
Steve's state-room."
For ten days Steve's room was quaran-
tined. Nobody but Jack saw theinside of it.
We saw him sometimes, carrying some
thing to the sick man or sitting on the
| guards to get breath of air; but every
soul on the boat kept out of his way. We
all liked Jack, but the fever might be in his
clothes. He began to look pale, but he
never grumbled. One day the news came
out to US that Steve was deao. A few hours
after we buried him on an island in the
river in pine box, and the only thing like
prayer said over him was from Jack: "God
help himl"
The fever did not spread, and we all
| breathed treer few evenings after
J Steves death was on watch at the head of
the tow, aud Jack was with me. We were
putting at tobies to keep off the mosquitoes
There was haze over the water, but the
stars were shining, and the broad river was
quiet as lake.
''Jack," said I, ''Pve got raging head
ache"
'Nol' said he, as if he asked question.
He took nay hand and held it.
'Not fever, is 1t, Jsckp'
"Come and lie down" was his answer
A dizziness came over me, and, without
Jacks arm to steady me, would never
have reached my bunk. / remember very
little after that. learned afterwards that
was delrrious; but how long l can not tell
you. I remember Jacks face near me at
times as in dream the kindliest face you
| ever saw, not handsome, maybe, but face
with some of Gods goodness in it.
! When got back to reality again found
| Jack bending over me. was in the same
state-room, and could feel from the mo-
ton that the boat was under way.
"How long have been here, Jackl"
"Quite awhile, my boy.'
Sand where are wel"
mot far from Memphis"
''Going up or down!"
'Going home. Don't talk if it tires you"
What was the matter with me, Jackl"
/ "a touch Of fever; but you're better
now.n
"Can't ] look out, Jacks 1t will do me
! good to see the sum-
| He raised me up as gently as q woman
| would have done, and / looked out through
the glass door of the state-room eagerly as
| achlld. Had the sun ever shoue so brightly
before? The low wooded shores looked like
| paradise, No mountain stream ever seemed
so beautiful to me as the great muddy river.
"Jack,' said l, when he laid me down
again, what can ever do to pay your
.'Pay me for what!,i
Look at me; I'm thin as a ghost Imust
have been sick long time. You've pulled
me through, jack
:" I've done nothing of the kind, ~ safd be,
laughing
noticed for the first time how very thin
and pinched his face was It seemed as If
he had grown old.
"Look atme, Jack; you've been the best
friend ever had
He made no answer, but took my hand
and pressed it. 1t seemed as If a mist came
between US, and saw pig tears standing in
Jacks kindly eyes.
81 thought I'd got past this" said he,
coughing.
Next day he came in smiling, with let
ter and some oranges.
II went ashore at Memphis" he ex-
planned, 'sand found letter from Sister
Annie. They're looking for me homen
Wen soon be IN Pennsylvania again,
jack
He looked me full in the face and smiled.
| His eyes seemed very large and his cheeks
were bloodless. 1t saddened me 10 look 81
him.
ST must gonow,'' sail he. 81 hope you'n
enjoy the oranges
! Twas mending fast and expected to be