South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-09-18
THRINTKLLlcENcER
Tho Pilots Story.

We had gscva Up together ~ 4
we're. A"llie cad I, oar pass d ! bslns
near neiehbors. an.l-0hich does uo'
always foi'Ow-6sm friends - cell
Thsy we're poor, and I suspect thai
Fact had much 10 do 9Th their friend.
chip. tos opportunities we're aiways
'srnins up Tor helping oae sso'hsr.
Our parents being sucA good srisud.
q naturally rsauitsd that Mollie and
followed their exampl~. We vent q
school together. resd together. and
aomehow. when Mollis vas eighteen
aad w-s twenty. Ne sRreed 10 travel
Together all our lives. and. vers very
Lsppy In that arrangement. Ie fact,
no dher would bare ssemed right os
natural. either 10 % or our pareHts.
From the earliest days Of my boy.
hood l bad fondness for the water
haunting tho paIatiai s'eamboats that
d 'sted ON The great mississippi River
on whose banks nestled the city ia
which Ne dwelt, end, 1t the period q
which am about 70 refer. bad Jus,
occurred position ~ pilot on sm all
freight steamer.
IL was not much Of . position, TO be
sure. nor wss there much Ut Q salary
attached to Il; but. small - Il vas,
Moliie and decided thst we could
make it an -wsr for two people, neith.
or OF them extravagant or unrsasona.
be So early one bright morning,
having obtained . days leave Of alb
sence. Molly and ! were Married and
sfspp'ng into q carriage I had hired
for the occasion. We started of. hav-
ing decided on q days excursion to q
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 b ppy to
he disturbed by any shortcomings OF
cum or purse.
We had scarcely driv,n hey ond our
own street, when W, we're bro ght to
q halt. A messenger whom reeog-
nized as belonging to our steamboa,
hailed me.
Here Ia q note tor you from the
Superintendent. THUS IL ran.
Am sorry to recall your leave for
to-day, hut yon must imne lately 20
on board the Mobilia. which i, ready
to go up the river. The pilot j. too
i'll to attend to his duty, aud you are
appointed TO take his place for the
pre-ent.
There Roes our wedding trip all
to sma,h said I, as Mol,ie read
the order.
Why so 2 she asked.
You see must 60 TO the pilot
house OF the MoMiia.
Very we'll. she replied. We will
just go MP the river instead Of To the
cave. Drive on, Bob let Us go down
to the whsrf in state.
Rut you can't 60 In the pilot house
With me, little goose.
OF course not bot can sit on the
deck outsid-. laughed Mollie and wo
can cs.t languish;ng glances at esch
other.
Anil 40 It came TO pass that I took
possession OF the Mobiiia's pilot.
house. my heart glowing with love
and pride; with love, for there just
before me. on the little forward deck,
sal NV sweet bride; with pride be-
cause n, Mobiiia va, one OF the en-.
est OF the floating palaces Of The Mis-
s's'ippi, and to pilot such an one had
for years been my ambition. I gave
myself up TO my own happy thoughts.
AID looking up on the far distant.
pesceful shores Of the river, over
whose placid bosom We we're moving
90 swiftly, there rose from my heart
. glad. sileut hymn Of rejoicing.
But suddenly . CRY broke forth
from the csbin behind me that ef.
fec,ually changed the current of my
thoughts:
F'rel fret 6rsi A horrible crv
at all times. hut most horrible az eli
when II rings forth 10 the midst Of
CAV unsuspicious hundrsds floating
~ fsnciei security ia :ho midst of
the waters.
Ayel there was no mistake about
" nor false alarm. No one )uId tell
how u bad commenced bat there i,
vas creeping along the roof OF the
upper cabin, With the deadly a.mes
tapping up every scrap OF awning aud
curtain they cpulc find upon their
way, ever and anon dartin0 long
tongues OF hsmes down Tn the floor TO
cap the light chairs and tables and
settees 10 their fiery embrsce.
The people harted down from the
hery upper cabin to The forward deck
below. where as yet the foe bad made
nut little Roadway. and the CAPTAIN
who was the rars avis the right man
In the right place succeeded 10 par
italy queIliog the panic.
Keep quiet be ordered-keep
quiet. and stay just where you sre, or
1 vi not answer for the lives Of any
ct 700 The steward will provide
every one OF yoo with life preserves |;
but there Is no reason for any person
to go overheard; not yet awhile, at
any rate, unless suicide is desired.
Keep quiet l sayi Pilot head her
straight for the land, half q mile
ahead. I'VE we're At least twice that
distance from the msin land on either
shoTe.) Engineer. put on all steam -
crowd her on We I'll ron a race
With the foul fend who has boarded
the MObilia.
SuddenIv thara vas mnyunr