Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-04-04

Captain.
''Yes, Billy has polished her up pretty
bright" But he shook his head as be
| spoke.
"Well, do your best, boys, to get her
through on time" said the Captain,
baking slowly away, coughing as he
vent.
Promptly at the hour the start was
made. The complicated old engine
creaked and strained as its many parts
were put in motion. Starr handled the
engine. I stood by ready to give assist
ance.
When We were off, never saw the
| Occident engine work more smoothly.
With a good pressure of steam, the vari-
Gus parts olick-clacked merrily, and the
boat moved ahead at a good rate.
| stood the first watch. Before Starr
retired, he went to look for the Nayiga-
ton Company's boat, but returned and
said that he could not seen ten feet from
the guard.
About half an hour afterward l sat
down upon the broad, cushioned seat
beside the boy, keeping my eye upon the
engine. There were not many moments
during the whole trip when either Starr
OF myself was not watching that engine.
''Please, sir, how soon before we get
therc2n
The little girl was fast asleep, but the
boy was sitting bolt upright. They were
healthy-looking children, poorly but
neatly drcssed-the little girl very pref
ty, with tangle of brown curls about
her flushed face as she lay asleep in the
corner
"Where are you going2" l asked.
"To Seattle, and we want to get there
awful quick, if you please, sir.
"What's your hurryl''I asked, amused
at the boys earnestness.
''Mother hasn't seen Ally and me for
more than four months I" said he, CON
IDENTIFY.
elbows thatl" l asked.
''Why, you see, father and mother
moved up to Seattle and left us with
grandma till they got settled. We were
going by the other line"
"Were you, indeed Aud what
changed your minds2"
ooh, the purscr met grandma on the
dock, and said he'd take care of us, and
he just kind of run us on this boat. It's
a good boat, isn't it,"
[ smiled, knowing Harry Watkins's
way Of picking up passengers.
"And who's to meet you in Scatter"
"Oh, mother. She's expecting us, aud
won't be far off, | guess. She said in
her last letter she was most crazy to
see me and Ally. My father he's got a
Job at fishing on the Sound. He's a
great fisherman. He's caught salmon so
long"
The boy stretched out his arms to
their utmost extent.
Just then Harry Watkins looked in
over the haf-dcor.
"Of all the nights ever saw on the
Sound" he said, tthis is the worst.
thought H>i..--s~;~ d.. c., IL "a I
beaten, but it's nothing to this. Hullol
How are the children getting along2
You ought to have seen how got those
two passengers! Their grandmother was
bound to send them by the Navigation
boat; but I rushed her over to our ticket
office, and became personally responsible
for the safe delivery CT those young
ones"
He eyed them solemnly as he spoke.
"IIeyl but we're stepping off lively to-
night, eh2 Navigation boat away be-
hind"
eyes, she's doing pretty well to-
night, l said, "but there's no telling
how long it will last. She's very uucer-
tain
"Well, I'll relieve you of these chill
dren now, Billy; and much obliged for
taking care of 'em. But what I'm to do
with the youngsters | don't know
They've second-class tickets, only.
don't like to turn them in with that
crowd"
'Leave them here" I said. 'Ill be
on duty till we get TO Seattle. It's a pity
to disturb the little girl, and taere's room
enough for the boy to sleep on the seat.
They won't be in my way"
CAN right" said he, "I'll just make
a pillow for the little girl, aud settle the
boy right"
He opened the door and came in. In
few minutes he had arranged very
comfortable bed for both.
ooh, I'm used to it, he said. ''Tm
the oldest of family of nine. This is
the most comfortable place in the boat "
az wouldn't like to have anything
happen to these children, said the purscf,
seriously, pausing a. the door 81 don
know what makes me feel SO, but I'll
never take the responsibility of do;ug
anything like this again. It's all right
for people who voluntarily take their
! chances with us, but to force children,
I with no one in particular to look after
them, on board this boat, is another
thing"
/ Watkins went away, glancing back at
the children.
In short tine the boat settled down
into comparative quiet The chattering
of the Cinnamon ceased, the humping
caused by tue men moving the freight
was stilled aud nothing was heard but
the kissing OF the steam, the CLICKING Of
the engine aud the paddles beating the
water, as the 0ccidcnt rushed rapidly
along through the fog.
We were about three hours out from
Tacoma when I heard a commotio1
among the men forward. Presently tn:
bell sounded to 90 at half speed.
Soon l learned that the Captain has
been taken suddenly ill, bleeding from
+, the lungs, and had been carried to hi
room in an unconscious condition.
The mate had taken charge, but wa
not at all sure where he was going, FOL
the night was thick and black.
This news made me very anxious, TO
I knew that no man on board wa
capable of taking the Occident to Seattlt
on such a night as this except the Cap
tain.
Soon the gong sounded the signal t.
stop the engine. We lay quiet, excep
for the slight rocking of the steamer
caused by the swell
As | stopped the engine, noticed
that something had gone wrong with TIL
machinery. Just what it was | coulc
not at the moment make out, but l wa
sure, from the jar l ielt, that some par
Of the complicated machinery had got GU
Of order, as it often did just as sud
oonly.
l ran hastily over the engine, bu
could fial nothing broken. l concludes
that it must be in some of the many hid