Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-04-04


tie girl like that. She died four years ago
last Easter" and the hard look left his
taee, his clenched hands opened and there
were tears in mis- eyes.
was saved the painful task Of making
answer 10 this sad speech, as the Mollie
had made fast to the wharf boat, and
turned to respond to a salutation ulaae by
the mud clerk, who was an old schoolmate
of mine.
In ten minutes the captain cried "All on
boardr" and those who were going to take
passage, including Mr.. and Mrs. Simpson
and their little girl, hurried across the
short staging and up the cabin stairs. The
little steamer backed out and down the
stream until about sixty yards from the
shore, when, with her nose pointed straight
at the north POLE her engines were re
versed, and she began to move up stream.
Just as soon as she got under Roadway the
rostabouts-all darkies-g gathered on the
forward deck and broke out into that song
so familiar to residents of river towns in
those days, and sang as only Mississippi
river rostabouts could sing. The leader,
perched upon some high object of freight,
sang the first and third lines as q solo, and
the whole crew joined in the others, which
were a sort OF refrain. One should hear the
tune to thoroughly appreciate this musical
gem, but here are some of the words;
A Duny boat anc captain TOO;
Row, Mollie; row, gall
A handsome mate and jolly crew;
Row, Mollie; row, gall
OF course the words were always made to
suit the particular boat upon which they
were being sung.
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson had passed
through the cabin and out on to the cabin
deck, taking little Mile with them. They
had taken a position near the stern Of the
boat, so that they might see and be seen by
their friends on the wharf as long as pos
sible. and were waving their handkerchiefs
As the Mollie was just opposite the wharf
boat Mile was raised to a standing po-
Bition on the guard rail by her mother
who passed one arm around the child while
employing the other IN waving goodbyes
Suddenly Mile threw out her hands, rs
if in imitation Of her mother The latter
was unprepared for such movement. The
child broke from her light clasp and fell
into the river, just fur enough from the
boats side to be out Of reach of its big
wheels suction. Mrs. Simpsons wild cry
was heard high above the beating of the
Iollies wheel and the singing of her jolly
crew, and only her husbands strong arm
restrained her from plunging madly in
after the child. We on the wharf boat saw
the little one jump, and the faces that were
smiling at her efforts to wave adieu paled,
and the mothers anguish had an echo in
every heart.
felt and heard something rush by me,
and the old landing dock settled down as
If wave rocked as the figure of a man shot
out into the deep water ten feet beyond.
He was coatless and bareheaded, and there
could be no mistaking, by one who had
seen it, that head Of bushy hair. II was
Freddy" Morgan. Before the boats of
icers knew what was the matter and had
rung Gown her engines "Reddy' was more
than half way from the dock to the spot
where Mile had first disappeared. The
holder of three championship medals
should have had one more. for he could
swim with a motion as speedy" as that
he used in setting long primer.
Farther down streamw shouted a man
on the shore. Freddy" raised his body
half out Of the water, gave n quick glance
off 10 his right and struck out again. Once
more Le seemed TO stand upright, aud then
plunge head first under the water. He
was down half a minute, which seemed am
hour to the anxious watchers, then up he
came with a rush as if shot from a spring
and high on his shoulder was something
which we knew intuihyely was the child
By this time two men in a skiff were
pulling from the wharf to "Reddy's" as
sistance The Mollie had slowed down and
was preparing to land The skiff was soon
by "Reddy's" side and we heard him
blurt QUE. as il short of breath:
"Pll carry the-little one-boys; but you
must tow-us in"
He Crasped the stern OF the small boat
as it swung around within reach, and the
boatman carefully pulled for point on
the shore just below the wharf boat.
''Give me something TO lay her on, said
"Reddy," as he hurried outinto the gravel
beach. In an instant half dozen coats
were spread out upon the beach and the
unconscious child was placed upon them.
After carefully removing her shoes and
stockings and tearing omen her dress, Nor
gan began to roll her about and to slap her
back with his open hand She showed
signs Of recovering, and the tramp, VINO
seemed to know just what to do, said, zone
of you rub her hands and another slap her
feet"
He got on TO his feet, and, drawing
black bottle from his hip pocket, pulled its
cork with his teeth and sat down again.
Taking he little girl in his arms he gently
forced the mouth Of the flask between her
lips. She swallowed something with a
shudder, and "Reddy" passed the bottle to
me and pointed TO the cork between his
teeth. understood him. Then he took
up one of the dryest coats and wrapped it
about the child as she lay in his arms
shell be all right now" he said
just then the Mollie rubbed against the
wharf boat, and a white faced woman ran
toward us, followed by half dozen men,
the foremost Of whom was her husband
"My childl Ny MilHel Where is she2n
"She is here, and is uninjured, Mrs,
Simpson" said several at once
'Reddy" arose easily, and without say
ing a word gently laiu little Mile in her
mothers arms. Then he stopped, picked
something from the ground and hurredly
thrust it inside his shirt. alone observed
this movement as l handed him lis bottle,
saying, You had better take some of this
stun yourself, old man"
"Not now he replied, and put the bot
tie in his pocket, AS he turned 10 move
away Mr.. Simpson came up TO him, and
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