The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-01-25
Jack Price, Deck Hand.

will care to read a deck hands story.
People coll us coarse aud vulgar.
Granted: but our work makes US 30.
There are ladies, I fancy, who will
shudder at the thought Of such a
story, and gentleman who will dip
into it carefully, expecting to
find a string of oaths. Judge for
yourself whether this tale of jack
Price, my partner, is fit for refined
ears.
No need to tell you ofa deck hands
life. A man that beats about in the
cold and rain, handling sleety ropes
or balancing himself on the gunwale
ofa coal barge with twenty feet OF
swift water under him, is not apt to
be a pretty, kid gloved, soft voiced
fellow, 1fhis face is red it is because
midwinter winds on the Ohio are not
good for the complexion. He deals
with rough work and is rough him
self; but his heart is just about as
apt to he right as that of q senator
Or Judge.
We started from Pittsburg, on the
George Hammond in July, Jack and
L. There was u big river and we
made good time to Louisville, where
We shipped on the Charley Roberts,
hound for Orleans. To say we found
it hot on the lower Mississippi gives
no idea Of the weather. Half the
crew were unfit for duty. One MORN
ing there was whispering among
the boys.
whats up, jack" said 1.
"Steve Robinson's down with
swamp fever"
The boys gathered in q knot
around the captain. Before long
there was q panic among them. The
mate shook his head and looked
thoughtful.
.The man must be put ashore!'
said the captain.
No, sir!" cried Jack Prince.
"Who are you?'
"Plain Jack Prince; butSteve don't
60 ashore. It's an outrage to think
oft"
WHO'S to nurse him?"
"Me."
ISL"
Doubtful.
"l'll nurse Steve, l tell you! We've
made five trips together, and if he is
put ashore here in the swamps, l go
with him."
"iou it is" said the captain, turn
ing on his heel. Not another man
goes into Steve's state ROOM"
For ten days Steve's room was
quarantined. Nobody but Jack saw
the inside Oft. We saw him some
times, carrying something to the
sick man or sitting on the guards to
get u 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
dead. A few hours after we buried
him on an island in the river in a
pine box, and the only thing like
prayer said over him was from Jack:
God help him!"
The fever did not spread, and we
all breathed freer. A few evenings
after Steve's death I was on watch ut
the head of the tow, and Jack was
with me. We were putting at tobies
to keep off the mosquitoes. There
was a haze over the water, but the
stars were shining, and the broad
river was quiet as q lake.
"Jack, said I, give got raging
headache"
"No?" said he, as if he asked a
question. He took my hand and
held it.
"Not fever, is it, Jack?"
"Colne and lie down." was his an
swer.
A dizziness came over me, and
without Jacks arm to steady me l
would never have reached my bunk.
remember very little after that. l
learned afterwards that was delir-
ious: but how long cannot tell you.
remember Jacks face near me at
times as in dream-the kindliest
face you ever saw, not handsome,
maybe; buta face with some of Gods
! goodness in it.
When got back to reality again l
J found Jack benling over me. / was
in the same stateroom and could
feel from the motion that the boat
was under Way.
"How long have been here, Jack?"
"Quite while, my boy"
"And where are WEI"
"Not far from Memphis"
"Going up or down."
"Going home. Don't talk if it
tires you"
"What was the matter with me,
Jack?"
"a touch OF fever: but you're bet
ter now"
Cant I look out, Jack? It will
do me good to see the sum-
He raised me up gently as a woman
w " have done, and looked out
Il