Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-17
YANKEE COAL.

II know it's right smart offer, squire,
and $500 is big sum of money for pi-
lot to get for taking pair of boats from
Pittsburg to New Orleans, but, don't
you see, there's heap O risk to run. !
amt afeerd O what the rivers can do,
for I've been down the Ohio and Mis-
sissip' times enough to make their ac-
quaintance pretty well, but feelin's are
hot among the people along the banks O
the lower waters, and 'twould be as
much as u mans neck'd be worth to be
caught with broadhorn of Yankee
coal anywheres betwixt Cairo and the
Old Red Church" (The place where
the coalboats used to tie up at New Or
leans)
''I'm well aware, Jack Leathers, that
the risk is great, replied Squire Thomas
the owner of the coal. "But we have
the boats all loaded and want them
started, even though they don't get
farther than the mouth of the Ohio. So
4 promise you $500 if you so through
to New Orleans all right, with $500 III
advance, which will be yours if your
trip does not extend beyond Cairo"
"AsI said," returned Jack, who was
one of the oldest pilots on the two rivers,
Its 'mazin temptin offer. And if /
can pick up crew of square men here
in Pittsburg I'll make u start of it"
"That's right, Leathers," answered
the skipper. "Offer them $3.50 apiece
one third in advance"
Every well, squire, and If any of the
boys are loafing around that's got the
bottom in 'em to go with me, I'll be
ready to cast off at daylight tomorrow
morning"
Jack Leathers did not meet with so
much difficulty in picking up Il crew
as he had anticipated, for. although the
war clouds of civil strife had already
begun to lower over the country, the
ignorant boatman did not realize the
bitter feeling with which the people
of the south were imbued, and conse-
quently had not the fears for their safe
ty which the pilot, more enlightened
possessed.
"It's no more than right for me to tell
you, boys, that we're startin on what
may be the hottest trip that any of us
have ever taken down stream. So if
there's one among you that feels scary.
he can jest chuck his plunder on tho
bank an go ashore right here, for after
we swing out into the Ohio not man
shall leave the boats till we get to New
Orleans, unless he's taken by officers o.
soldiers along the way, or we strike a
snag and have to swim for it."
"Ain't you going down, Jack?' asked
one of the crew significantly.
Il should say was. was the grim
answer
Then | reckon we uns have got as
much sand as you uns, SO there amt any
need of more talk about it."
Though the reply was giyen in a gruff.
almost surly tone, yet the pilot was well
pleased to receive it, as he knew thu
nature of the material he had to deal
with, and accepted the laconic retort Of
the rough boatman for WHAT it was-viz.,
pledge of fidelity.
AS the pair of long, unwieldy coal.
boats swung out into the stream and
felt the current of the river, they were
heartily cheered by the crowd of idle
spectators who We're gathered upon the
shore.
Il wish we'd waited until night afore'
maxim start" grumbled the pilot to.
his assistant, Billy Brown. "Now the
news that Jack Leathers with broad
horn of Pittsburg coal is headed down
river will travel a good sight faster'n
we will, and we may look for trouble
even afore we git to Cairo"
swell, my advice is, Jack, not to hug
that trouble before it comes abroad" he.
piled the youthful and light hearted
second" as he gave vigorous sweep
with his long steering oar, as much to
smphasize his remark as to guide the
boat cut into midstroam.
81 don't propose to. But, don't you
zee, while we're up here among the
Union folks, if any one stops and asks
us what we've got we can say we've got
Yankee coal and tell the truth. But
when we get down into the Mississip'
and the other chaps hail us we can't
say we're loaded with secesh cargo,
cause that'd be a lie, and Jack LeatheTs
hasn't told a lie since he was a boy"
"Well," replied his companion, "you
wouldn't catch Bill Brown hesitating
long between lie that would burn his
tongue and the moose of q rope. If
was in charge Of this broadhorn, and
any one around here asked me what I'd
got, should say Yankee coal. If was
down about Vicksburg way, and the
chaps should ask me the same question, l
would tell 'em secesh coal. If they took
my word for it and let me pass, I'd sleep
heap sight sounder that night. think
ing had squeezed through mighty
narrow hole"
The conscientious chief slowly shook
his head, but made no answer for sew
eral minutes; finally he said:
s'Perhaps there's some way we can
get around it. Now, Kentucky is as
much secesh as she is for the Union, SO
! was thinkin if we could make trade
for hundred bushels or so of her coal,
we'd have both kinds aboard and we'd
be all right"
Brown smiled at the novel manner in
which his pilot proposed to quiet his
conscience, though he had to admit it
was not bad scheme.
But" he remarked, "won't the rebs
capture us if we make landing to try
that kind of barter?'
eyes, they would be likely to. But it
struck me that before we got out of the
Ohio we might meet steamer that'd be
willin to exchange. know most O. the
cap'ns, and wouldn't mind THROWN in IL
few extra bushels for the sake O. the