San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-10

his chesC1aS large piece OF carub board, or
which he had written, in hand large
enough to attract the attention of the mer
who worked on the weekly, Call me when
the Tom Jasper blows her horn"
was just finishing my breakfast, al
1870, when | heard familiar whistle
"There's the Mollie, and must run down
to her"
When | reached the wharf the Mollie
Mcpike, stern wheeler at that time
known to every man, woman and child
from ST. Louis TO Keokuk, was just max
ing a landing A score or more of persons
were on the wharfboat, and standing at
one side, with look of unutterable hatred
in his face, was "Reddy" Morgan. He was
glarng at a group of half dozen few
feet away. followed his gaze, and was
ntd- somewhat uneasy to see that the
M : prominent figure of the group was Mr.
Snn..2on. remembered 'Reddy's" threat,
and hlrriedIy stepped to his side, that /
might try to restrain him if he should
make any open demonstration of the pas
sion that was so strong within him.
well, here you are, my tourist friend;
but you are ahead of time"
Yes; couldn't sleep after 10 O'clock" he
mUttered, without turning his head. 81
was knocking around up town when
heard this tub whistle, and as don't know
their tootS like you natives do thought it
was my boat. Say, there's my man over
the req
II see; but l wouldn't make any trouble
here if were you. His wife and little girl
are with him, and they would be badly
frightened if you attacked him"
DO you mean TO tell me that pretty
ltt.e yellow headed girl is his child?"
She is. That is little Mile Simpson, a
great favorite with half the people in town."
replied
Pm done; that beats me. Boss, maybe
you won't believe me, but once l had a lit
tie girl like that. She died four years ago
last Easter" and the hard look left his
face. his clenched hands opened and there
were tears in his eyes.
/ was saved the painful task of making
answer to this sad speech, as the Mollie
had made fast to the wharf boat, and
turned to respond to salutation made 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-gathered on the
g., IL NJ ,,xo IL
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 a 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 bully boat and captain too:
Row, Mollie; row, gall
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.
Gir. and Mrs. Simpson had passed
Though the cabin and out on to the cabin
deck, taking little Mile with them. They
had taken 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 standing po-
sition 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, as
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 far 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
Mollie's 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. 1t was
freddy" Morgan. Before the boats of
ticers knew what was the matter and had
rung down 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 Il motion as speedy" as that
Re used in setting long primer.
FARTHER down stream" shouted a man
on the shore. Freddy" raised his body
half out of the water, gave quick glance
off TO bis right and struck out again. Once
more lie seemed to stand upright, and then
Elunge head first under the water He