The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-12
UP AND DOWN THE MISSOURI.
FOUR SHORT STORIES OF THE: OLD
sTEaMBOA TING DAYS
The Inst Run OF the Martha Mitchell
Sniutinx the Bride Tribe Premstureiy
Justsce ON Wolf Island - Why Capt.
Dave silver Quilted tho River.

treachery OF the Missouri River. The oldest
pilots on tho stroam-those grizzled follows
who went,to Fort Benton on trips that het'et
from SO 1000 to $2O.00O each-wil tell you tha
''tie up" over night is the only way to insure
tho passengers that the morning will not Inc
them stuck ora bar in midstream. or. what Is
| worse. camped'on shore with the boat pinned
by snag and settling in the mud. Nc
modern snag boat can keep the channel clear
OF tho heavy logs that are always floating
down from somewhere UP along tho Dakota
Iowa. or Nebraska shores. green at first MS
torn from cavng banks. b,n dead. hard. an. and
snlntered when most dangerous. SnaG ;s,i tha ~
ho feared. but the hidden logs; those .. whose
swings up within a foot. or two OF tho sur,
| face. have always made steamt oating on tue
| Missouri II precarious occupation.
remember one instance. however. IN whicn
saom ss a s ons g9SSa
nights that ever hung over the river IN, 1t was
W. is 6c Of Mart rsnHRf ;cSe na%p
lover low" wa waters. running from clneinnqti 70 New
Orleans She was making trip TO a. Jo ocnn
and bacon. let me tell you. was necessity IN
ths West then The passenger VT TIC Of the
s.ls We're hSHyyd to to rent
The Capia had gone, to bod for a wonder,
r rp the executive among those awak ?
| on deck. A dozen passengers were seated
While they S reveiied in The boautlss Of tho
night The moon was shining with q clear nr;
wns hasd tns p nd vsSs n %1
There WAS no noise save the dull throb. throb.
throb OF the engines the gentle nun Of the re-
on nH The Wheels Wheels paddles. 'N
suddenly Jack Caruthers. a young fellow,
III" bon , and po aIH" to small OBJECT
Just Iiscernable in the distance. asked:
"A log. rrobabiy.7i returned an old-timer.
. Put I've been Watching it" c GaETuthers went
jeat in tho distance. it grew palmer as tho
boat climbed the stream. but not as ii It werc
floating down on the current-the approach
$50 there y, Caruthers, exclaimed. ITS
swinging from side to side"
"FInny.., sa!d the oldtimer. but i she's a
ths Pot II get Hsat M rSs wore
looking at the black object. The boat did not
change its course. There was nc, more com.
in the river. When the boat was within forty
feet of IT the old-timer sPranG Up apH loaern,S
called back to the pilot:
Hello, up there
There Wns no reny AMI thenSse Of tho big
M s''o what Sn" IS eam n"s' sr answer
in front"
There was a changing o, bells; below, decks;
lurch violently as the machinery was reversed
and the steamer answered her rudder But IL
other Jar. greater than tn" first The Martha's
pose seemed to climb into the air. An effort
bulge Then the passengers became panic
stric ken. running. about in their night gar
anf to und IN
moment. however and before the old steamer
had settled foot every passenger was started
In the morning We watched tho cabin Of
tho Martha float of while we stood on the
H hs ss%s S%s 81 arh, did not save their
weS nd by hn s
did not run us ashore before the accident. tut
the Captain sqd that he Emcw the river 50
Liberty L "a is the nTs Of sm I'LL
was the place at which boats stopped to send
goods over the hill to the town Of L'bcrty. in
OF course the landing never amounted to very
much-those places never did. being .2nly
rom the 0r from 0W wch they sds IT,
names There was but one exception to thin
ruls-Westurort Landing, The town Of Vest
and it had the start Of the landing. hut before
long the tide turned. In few years. Westport
is now the largest city on the Missouri River.
But must not forget Liberty and tho landing;
june n morning. rs Just alter T sanrse and
larger crowd 70 greet, us than usual.
Among the Visitors who rame on board was
calico OF modest design. while her sweet face
pecned out .coyly from the great. od-mshioned
She smiled. There was an instant rush Of
all the young fellows on board the boat to
[ q All n
Weather father. planter was tho first to
Let me have the pleasure OF showing you
over the steamer he said. raising his hat
with such ceremony.
believe I'd like to 500 how she looks"
50 they went on the upper deck where good |
0s% Of tn" rysr va: then int Il"
coop under the pilot house is called. they went: |
then into the pilot house itself where tho |
I he big wheel. They ramnled about for moro |
than an hour. examining the engines. tho fur |
long social hall" or snIoon. with its little |
doors opening into statcrooms: the piano was |
looked upon wondsrinGly hv the Clay county |
Hope YOU enjoyed yourself" said young
Cobb. rs he helped tho girl along tho gang
II did" she said. and hor eyes fell. She had
noticed some one she did not care to see.
And when como back next month. I'll
likely be on another boat I'd liiSto show YOU
over her. too
"a III. Il" she said. but reckon well
Give It up" Cobb was Interested. "Hows
tint I'd be delighted, I'm sure"
On. cant tell. she said. with something
OF n cOyncss In her smile.
The second bell was ringing.
well. good-by. Miss-nh. er-good-by"N He
extended 4 bis hand and she took 1t,
Yes. I'd like to look over the next boat with |
you. but" and she glanced under her lashes
Up the hill to a little crowd that stood there
riod next MONTH"
"Ohl" exclaimed Cobb, land can't DO here.
Can't you put 1t oir?' he laughed.
Not now. / reckon" the girl ans wered,
holding his hand and CHANGING up the Iii
again. "but-tpt you can slute the bride now.
The mate had given, the order to hoist the
and already the ropes were creak-
ng viii le tho big stern wheel OF tho boat be-
gan to turn slowly. Cobb knew that every
body on board was looking at him. and he |,
snew; too that ths lucky swain must he IN the
bride. It WINS n rousinr kiss. As no stopped
% imprint i. a young follow dashed ont OF
,oward him.
Drop 'er!" he shouted.
But Cobb was away like tho wind and as he