Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-18
A RACE OF FIRE.

DOfS, anu-Wnlcn does not always follow
firm friends as we'll They were poor, and
/ suspect that fact had much to do with
their friendship, for opportunities were
always turning up for helping one another:
and 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 suchs good friends, it
naturally resulted that Molle and | fol
lowed their example We went to school
together, read together, played together,
and somehow, when Mollie was eighteen
and twenty, 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 ]
had a fondness for the water, haunting
the palatial steamboats, that noated 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 n position as pilot on a
small freight steamer
1t was not much of position, to be sure,
nor was there much of salary attached
to it; but, small as it was, Mollie and |
decided that we could make it answer for
two people, neither of them eXtravagant
or unreasonable; besides which had hopes
of better times to come, as | had received
words of commentator from my employ
ers, and promises of speedy promotion.
So early one bright morning. having OBJ
tanned a days leave of absence, Mollie and
i were married, and stepping into a car
riage had hired for the occasion we start
ed off, having decided on a 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
shortcomings of time or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our own
street when we were brought to a halt A
messenger whom | recognized as belonging
to our steamboat company hailed me.
Here is a note for you from the super
intendent"
Thus it ran:
"Am sorry to have to recall your leave
for today, but you must Immediately &C
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 tc
take his place for the present"
''There goes our wedding trip all to
smashl" said |, as Mollie read the order.
"Why so2" she asked
you see, must go into the pilot house
of the Mobila."
VERY well, " she replied; Eve will just
go up the river instead of to the cave
Drive on, Rob; let us go 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 Mollie, land we can cast
languishing glances at each other"
And so it came to pass that | took pos
session of the Mobilia'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 Mobiia 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 ambi
ton.
The steamer was fitted up with a 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
passengers, and this morning it was par
ticularly crowded. for the boat was heavily
laden with people taking advantage of the
beautiful weather to make an excursion III
the river.
Some rough fellows jostled against Mol
lies chair after awhile, and she rose ant
passed down into the lower cabin, ito ge
a drink of water" she whispered to me al
- hat I foa11y 4,
prevent the bursting of the thunderclout
she saw gathering on my brow.
| saw that the insolent fellows made NJ
attempt to follow my dear one, so | CAV,
myself up to my own happy thoughts, ant
looking upon the far distant, peaceful
shores of the great river over whose placi,
bosom we were moving so swiftly, ther,
rose from my heart glad, silent hymn o
rejoicing.
But suddenly a cry broke forth from tn
cabin behind me that effectually changed
the current of my thoughts.
"Fire fret frep' A horrible cry at al
time, but most horL BILE of all when i
rings forth in the midst of gay, unsuspi
cious hundreds floating in fancied securit.
in the midst of the waters.
An instant's awestruck silence succeede,
that awful cry, and then 300 voices of men
women and children united in fearful
heartrending shrieks for help.
"Firel fret irep'
Ayel there was no mistake about it, N
false alarm. No one could tell how it ha'
commenced, but there it was, creepin
along the roof of the upper cabin, with tn
deadly flames greedily tapping up ever
scrap of awning and curtain rney coul'
find on their way, ever and anon dartin
loose tongues of flame down to the floor t
clasp the light chairs and tables and sci
tees in their fiery embrace.
As well seek with n sieve to scoop up tn
waters on the great river on which tn
Mobilia 1oated as to try to subdue th
roaring, devouring enemy that had seize
upon the i'll fated steamer.
The people darted down from the blazin
upper cabin to the forward deck below
where as yet the foe had made but littl
headway, and there our brave captain-wh
was that rara avis, "the right man in tn
right place"-succeeded in partially quel
ing the panic.
keep quiet" he ordered, keep quie
and stay just where you are or will nc
answer for the lives of any of you'll III
steward will provide every one of you wit
life preservers, but there is no reason Il
any person to go overheard; not yet awhil
at any rate, unless suicide is desired. Kee
quiet, sayl Pilot, head her straight fc
the land, half mile aheadp 1--WE were
least twice that distance from the mail
never cease to pray for his welfare as ion
as she lived.
81 was a fool, )" he muttered impatientl
ne tho uoisa accommodating the Slaupbt,