The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-17
A RACE WITH FIRE.


l suspect that fact had much to do with
their friendship, for opportunities were al
ways turning up for helping one another;
and l have often noticed that when near
neighbors are well off and have no need for
mutual help. there is very seldom any
friendship between them. There is more
apt to be jealousy and competition.
Our parents being such good friends, it
naturally resulted that Moliie and / fol-
lowed their example. We went to school
together, played together, and somehow.
when Mollie was Is and 20, we agreed to
travel together all our lives, and were very
happy in that arrangement. In fact no
other would have seemed right or natural,
either to us or our parents.
From the earliest days OF my bOyhood l
had q fondness for the water, haunting the
palatial steamboats, that tiOated on the great
Mississippi River, on whose banks nestled
the CITY in which we dwell, and at the
period to which / am about to refer had
just secured position as pilot on small
freight steamer
1t was not much of position, to be sure,
nor was there much of salary attached to
II; but, small as it was Molle and | de-
cided that we could make it answer for two
people, neither of them eXtraVagant OF
unreasonable; besides which | had hopes OF
better times TO come. as l had received
words of commentator from my employ
So early one bright morning, having OBJ
tanned a days leave of absence MUllie and
! were married, and stepping into car
rage had hired for the occasion we started
off, having decided on days excursion to
celebrated cave near by, this being all the
wedding trip we could allow ourselves. Not
that we cared in the least, however, we
were too happy TO be disturbed by any short
comings of time or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our own
e. bsD m half
messenger whom l recognized as belonging
TO our steamship company hailed me.
Here is note for you from the Super
intendent."
Thus il ran:
81 am sorry to have to recall your leave
for to-day, but you must Immediately go on
board the MObilia, which IS ready TO start
up the river. The pilot is too i'll to attend
to duty, and you are appointed to take his
place for the present"
There goes our wedding trip all to
smash said |. as MOllie read the order.
Why SOP" she asked.
You see, must go into the pilot-house
OF the MObilia."
Very we'll" she replied; I'VE will Just
20 uD the river instead of to the cave. Drive
on, Rob; let Us 60 down to the wharf in
state"
But you cannot go into the pilot-hOuse
with me, little goose"
OF course not; but | can sit on the deck
outside. laughed Molie. land we can cast
laDGuiShing glances at each other"
And SO 1t came TO pass that | took pos
session Of the MObllia's piloT-house, my
heart glowing with love and pride. With
love, for there, just below me, on the little
forward deck, sat my sweet bride. With
pride, because the Mobilia was one of the
finest of the beautiful floating palaces of
the Mississippi and to pilot such one had
for years been the height of my ambition.
The steamer was fitted up with double
cabin, one above the other-the upper one
opening upon a small deck. reaching out
toward the bow, near the center of which,
on raised platform, was placed the pilot
house. ms deck was always occupied by
passengers, and this morning it was par
ticularIy crowded, for the boat was heavily
laden with people taking advantage of the
beautiful weather to make an excursion up
the river
Some rough fellows j0stled against Mol
lies chair awhile, and she rose and passed
down into the lower cabin, Ito get drink
OF water" she whispered to me as she
passed, but l suspect it was really to pre-
vent the bursting of the thundercloud she
saw gathering on my brow.
i saw that the insolent fellows made no
ATTEMPT to follow my dear one, so | gave
myself I'D to my own happy thoughts, and
looking upOn the far distant peaceful
shores Of the great river over whose placid
bosom We were moving so swiftly, there
rose from my heart glad, silent hymn OF
rejoicing.
But suddenly a cry broke forth from the
cabin behind me that effectualy changed
the current of my thoughts.
Fire! Ire! freW A horrible cry at all
times, but most horrible of all when it rings
forth In the midst OF gay, uDsuspiciOus hun
dreds floating in fancied security in the
midst of the waters.
An in>tants awestruck silence succeeded
that awful cry, and then 3OJ voices of men,
women and children united in fearful,
heartrendng shTekS for help.
"Firel fire frer'
Ayel there was no mistake about it, no
false alarm. No one could tell how it
had commenced, but there it was, creeping
along the roof of the upper cabin. with the
deadly flames greedily tapping up every
scrap of awning and curtain they could find
on their way, ever and anon darting loose
tongues of fame down to the floor TO clasp
the light chairs and tables and settees in
their fiery embrace.
As well seek with a sieve to SCOOP up tho
waters on the great river on which the Mo-
blla fioated as to try to subdue the roaring
devouring enemy that had seized upon the
Inflated steamer
The people darted down from the blazing
upper cabin to the forward deck below.
where as yet the foe had made but little
headway, and there our brave captaiu-who
was that rara avis, ''the right man in the
right place" -succeeded in partially quelling
the panic
Keep quiet" he ordered; 'keep Quiet
and stay just where you are or l viii not
answer for the lives of any OF you! The
steward will provide every one Of you with
life preservers, but there is no reason for
any person to go overheard; not yet awhile,
at any rate, unless suicide is desired Keep
quiet. l Sayl Pilot, head her straight for
the land, half mile aheadl" 1--WE were at
least twice That distance from the mainland
ON either shore.) Engineer, put on all
steam crowd her! We will run a race
with the foul fiend who has boarded the Mo-
bilia."
There was an instant's pause, and then.
with groan and surge, with timbers
creaklng and straining and the windows
rafting as though in mortal terror, the
Mobilia gathered herself up 10 run her last
race.
Each passing moment the flames crept on
and on, never pausng in their terrible
march. Fortunately, they leaped upward
rather than forward, so that there was yet
but little danger to the panic-strcken crowd
on the lower deck.
But the pilot-house was directly In the
track OF the flames, and already their ad-
vance guard was beginning to surround me
smuggling my hair and eyebrows.
Suddenly there was murmur among the
people below, and the next instant light
form flew up the ladder leading to the deck
by the pilot-house, and before could say
word my precious Mollie had opened the
Mollie, M0llieP' l cried, "for heavens
sake, 60 back-go back! Don't you see
how the flames are creeping toward us
here? Go, go, my dearest, my own true
wife! Don't unman me by making me fear
for you. Go down, where l can feel you
have chance for safety"
Rob Thornew she exclaimed, with her
eyes looking bravely straight into mine,
IAN your wife?"
Surely, surely" l uttered "but go, gol"
MY post is here Just as much as yours is"
she answered firmly. Il will stay here.
Rob, and if you die / will die too. we will
make our wedding trip together, my dear
husband, even If it be into the next world.
Keep to your duty and never mind me, Rob
There Is hope Ior US yet. and If it comes to
crept round her lips-"we are still together.
dear loveW
saw it was Of no use to urge her any
more, and besides, something swelled in nv
throat so that l could not utter word, SO
that l just gripped the wheel hard and