The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-11-30
ON A WESTERN RIVER.
A Story of the Days Whom Dis
asters Were Frequent.
An Experiments on tho Growler That Was
Not the IIowiing Success Its Captain
Had Prodicted-A A Fire Alarm
and It's Results,

and It's Results,
About the time the closing scenes OF
the late war were being enacted, says
the Louisville Couricr-Joural, several
steamboats, were burned, one after an
other, at various points on tho Ohio and
Mississippi rivers at their tributaries.
A singular fatality seemed to have be-
fallen them, as one after another fell
victims to the flames. Finally, after
the last one burned-the ill-fated Sui
tana-there came a feeling of relief.
Still, with tho regained confidence, the
owners and officers of steamboats, took
every precaution to protect the lives
and property entrusted to their care.
The Government grew more exacting in
enforcing it's licenses and laws. New
life-saving inventions were imposed
upon the boats until it was almost an
impossibility for boat to be lost by
fire, or the life of passenger or one of
the officers or crew to be sacrificed.
Every captain felt it his personal duty
to look after the safety of his boat and
the passengers under his charge.
Suddenly an idea sprung up, and was
seized upon as being very good and
sensible one if properly carried out. 1t
was to organize the officers of boat into
a sort Of fire brigade and drill them in
such manner that in case of fire each
man would understand his duty and be
found at his post when called upon in
| the hour of danger and need. The cap
| tain was to rush to the roof; ring the
big bell to sound the alarm; the pilots
were to stand at the wheel until ordered
to desert it by the captain; the clerks
were to rush to the Office and save tho
books, money and papers; the steward
and cabin-boys were to make their way
to the rooms and arouse the passengers;
one engineer was to stand by his engines,
while the other was to remain at the
pumps; the mates wcro to apply and di-
rect the hose; the dcckhands, rousta-
bouts and firemen were to throw the
stages and lifo-boats overheard. Thus
every man on the boat had some special
duty to perform as soon as the alarm OF
''fire" was given.
OF course rchearsals were necessary
and frequent to make the men perfect in
the performance of their duties. The
that quite 4 number of boats adopted
the plan and began boasting of their sue
cess.
Among these may be mentioned old
Jim Crowder, captain and owner of the
one-boilcred, fiat-bowcd, stern-wheel
steamer Growler. The Growler towcd
RATS and did a general business on the
bosom of the upper Bitterwatcr and
could run down stream like wild loco
motive when she was feeling good. Cap
tain Jim and his crew had formed them
selves into fine brigade and he was
very proud of their performances. One
day he received an order to go fifteen
miles up the river and bring down near
ly two hundred negro wood-choppers to
O new field of operations. Before start
ing he invited q few friends to accom-
pany him up and back on the trip.
Said he: Il want to show you coming
back how my new fire brigade works.
It's a success"
The guests stepped aboard, and, all
being in readiness, the Growler started
up the river after the wood-choppers,
who were on the bank awaiting her ar
turned her head down the narrow
stream, the decks black with wood
choppers. Old Captain Jim had posted
his crew and he wanted them to ''show
off, before his friends. Getting them
together he led them down to the fore
castle with the remark: "Now, you fell
lers stand right here and I'll show you
something you never saw befo'. Now
watch and Of you don't say it's success
you kin have the boat"
Tho negroes were all over the boat
upstairs and down, some singing, some
dancing, some asleep. On the Growler
flew. Old Captain Jim remarked to his
guests: Are you ready? Here goes.
Watch EN-" And he gave one wild
Comanche yell of Fire" and made
rush for the roof, but he never got
three. All was wild commotion. Every
body yelled "Fire." The officers flew
to their posts of duty as they had been
trained to do. Tho negroes jumped
overheard from tho top and sides, and
some jumped over the wheel behind.
About fifty of them rushed down the
front stops. over Captain Jim, hiding
uihh lIoui VIC" tiuoscbh'i iol % pihit,
and before they could stop the Growler
three wasn't negro on tho boat any
where and the banks on both sides of
the river were lined with frightened
darkies wringing wet and trembling
from the shock of their sudden bath.
The boat landed to take them aboard,
but they preferred walking, and the
Growlcr went on down the river with
put them. Upon arriving at the home
wharf his friends took old Captain Jim
by tho hand and one of them obscrved
Captain, we have enjoyed the trip and
thank You, and we are unanimous in our
opinion that your fire brigade is sue
cess. There wasn't a life lost and the
experiment worked like a charm. You
ought to get it patented"
"fcr see,I furgot all about the derned
fool niggcrs bein' thcrc," he answered,
apologetically. 81 ought to have told 'em
bout it afore / hollered fire, oughtent
II"
The next time old Captain Jim tested
his fire brigade it worked like charm.