Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-11-11
J,M'S LUCKY DIVE.

J.M'S LUCKY DIVE.
! Yankee Blade: A large pair of heavy
laden coal boats. or 'broadhOrns." as
they were termed, swept out of the
Ohio and, catching the current of the
I mighty Mississippi, began the second
stage of the journey to New Orleans
The numbering, cumbrous craft had
come all the way from PittSburg under
the command of Joe Trick, a most skill
full pilot. These coalboatS were pecll-
! Harly constructed vessels, but they are
now things of the past, their places be
ing supplied by large barges which are
lowed back and forth by steamers.
They We're built Of one-inCh pine
board carefully selected, and any piece
of lumber containing but a single knot
was rejected. No nails were used in
putting the timber together but wooden
pins We're called for.
These frail vessels We're loaded deep
with coal from the mines, then two were
dashed together side by side, and, with
a crew of thirty-five or forty men, would
float serenely down the Ohio and Mis-
SisSippi to their destination
The day in which our story opens Joe
Trick was standing in the stern OF one
of the boats, with the long steering or"
in hand, guiding his broadh0rn on lis
way. Beside him was Il lad about Is
years Of age, Il handsome, intelligent
looking boy, who seemed to be wrap
ped in wonder and admiration at the
Sublimity of the scene that stretched out
before him.
'Well, Jimmy, my son, Wer're on the
old Mississippi once more. Let me see;
this is the third time for you, isn't it:''
Yes, uncle, you know you have taken
me twice yourself to New Orleans
That's u fact, Jim. But, you see,
I'm getting old and am apt to forget
little things like a trip down river. Now,
| couldn't tell within fifteen or twenty
how many times I've been down
stream"
That's not to be wondered at" re
turned the boy respectfully. for you
was IL pilot long before | was born.
But look, yOndcr comes Il high-pres-
sure boat UP stream" and Jimmy point
ed to a dense cloud of smoke which was
pouring out of the double stacks of Il
large steamer that was approaching.
Let her come my lad, let her come
She's got to keep out of our way. Now,
what would you say" continued Trick,
If ] could tell you the name of that
craft; and, what's more, the name of the
man who is looking at us now out of her
pilot-house, and, likely enough, wishing
us sunk down among the catfish for
presuning to get i'll her course. Yes.
my son, that's the River Queen. and
John Williams is her pilot
How can you be so positive at such
Il distance" asked the boy, his gaze still
riveted on the boat.
Listen to that exhaust" and joe
Trick turned his head so rs to better
catch the peculiar sound There isn't
another hooker betwiXt Cairo and the
gulf with such voice as that. Now
you'll see when we meet Williams, he'll
lay the River Queen as close to this
DroadhOrn as he dareS to. It's IN Old
trick of his. He thinks to brighten U.s.
but here's Il boss that don't brighten SO
y .
he'll cut up that caper once too often,
and when he sends a pair of boats with
their freight to the bottom of the MiSSiS-
sippi I'm under the impression that the
owners will fire him ashore on the bank
and then he'll have to take to coal-boat-
ing himself, like the rest Of us
BY this time the steamer was within
81 of f,sn c,l
was seen to change her course Il frac-
ton.
There, boy, didn't l tell you? Jack
Williams has starb'ed his helm, think
ing to raise our hair" Then in a loud
voice, which could have been heard
from one side of the river to the other,
Joe called:
tricks again? / reckon YOU wolllln' t
have taken the trouble of changing
your course if you'd a known Joe Trick
was on board here. He don't belong
to the scary breed"
''How(y, joe" returned the man in
the steamers pilOt-houSe ooh, no. |
don't want to crowd you into the bank.
for two such fellows as you and T.
AS Trick was about to answer, a shrill
scream was heard, issuing from the
after part of the steamer, and the
same instant 4 child was seen to fall
from the rail of the hurricane deck 10
the water.
In a second, Jimmy, the boy boat
man. sprang across the coal until he
reached the edge of the broadhorn, and
then plunged head foremost into the
muddy current.
The heavy boats were drifting fully
five miles an hour, while the steamer
bad been making equally good time up
against the stream; consequently, when
the brave lad reached the little girl
his own craft as well as the River
| Queen We're Scme distance away.
| Joe Trick was almost as quick to act
as his nephew. Calling to the second
| pilot to take the steering oar, he pick
ed up the little skiff that is always
carried on top of the coal, launched
it, and, seating himself upon the
| thwart, held it in position until the
| rescuer and his burden drifted down
| within his reach