Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-08-23


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 ii
was not a bad scheme.
But" he remarked, won't the rebs
capture us if we make landing to try
that kind of a barter?"
Eyes, they would be likely to. But ii
struck me that before we got out of the
Ohio we might meet a steamer that'd be
willin to exchange. / know most O the
cap'ns, and wouldn't mind THROWN in
few extra bushels for the sake O. the
accommodation
This idea seemed to greatly please
both men, although Brown observed
that he would not go to so much trou-
BILE, and volunteered TO do all the lying
in case they were stopped and ques-
toned.
To this Leathers would not consent;
so the matter was dropped.
Day and night the broadhorn floated
TRANQUILITY down the Ohio. One after
another the large towns and cities were
passed, and our friends could see that
everywhere on shore great excitement
prevailed.
They were now journeying through
what might be termed neutral coun-
try, for the people at this time had not
openly espoused the cause of the other
side.
Nearly a week they had been absent
from Pittsburg when they arrived at
Louisville. Here they were obliged to
haul up and await their turn in passing
through the canal.
"You uns won't get very far with that
Yankee coal, observed a loafer on the
fevee.
1.-THE boats from down river say that
they uns are just lookin for such chaps
as you uns."
Reckon they be-" replied Brown, to
whom the remark was addressed. Sand
they won't have to look hard to find us,
for a broadhorn amt so small an object
that it can't be seen from one bank 10
another"
That was the only comment made
which would tend TO cause the boatmen
TO fear for their safety farther along
When again well on their way, leaving
the city behind them, the pilot said:
I've fixed it, Billy. I've fixed it all
right. You know Hub SHELTON, the
cap'n o the Sanduskyy Well, he's com.
ing out O Louisville some time tonight,
and'll overhaul us long way this side
O Cairo. He's agreed to slow down an
make fast, an give us 100 bushels o
secesh coal for 100 O. ourn. What do
you think o that, my boyT'
''It's a right pert scheme" was the
reply, "seein it amt a-goin to delay Us
any, an will be heap Of relief TO your
mind"
'That's just it, my lad"
Some hours after midnight the heavy
putting of a high pressure boat was
heard approaching from up the river.
"There's the SanduskyT exclaimed
feathers. "Now, light another lantern,
Bill, and swing it so Skelton1l know
it's u.s."
AS soon as the signal was displayed.
the experienced boatmen could tell by
the sounds that reached them that the
steamer was slowing down.
cts all right, said the pilot "Stand
by for her lines. And you fellows get
ready TO roust 100 bushels aboard of
her lively"
Gurus, boat jest out o. Louisville
wantin ter buy COAL" grumbled one of
the men.
"P'raps she's secesh an the Yanks
wouldn't sell it to her, OF p'raps she's a
Yank and the secesh wouldn't sell it TO
her." returned another of the crew
"You can't tell how tits in these times 8"
1t did not take long to secure the
hawsers, and the big steamer and the
broadhorn floated on down the river side
by side.
When the boatmen saw the negro
crew Il the Sanduslsy pass them with
filled baskets and dump coal on their
own pile, they came TO the conclusion
that either feathers, the pilot, or the cap
tain of the steamer, or both, were crazy,
but they continued their labor until
ordered TO cease.
Then the big boat drew ahead, and
soon her red hot smokestacks disap-
peared around the bend farther down.
feathers fairly danced with delight
when the exchange had been completed
and he was again alone with his little
band. Calling his crew to him. he said:
''Now, boys, if we're hauled up afore
we reach the Mississippi, or leastwise
afore we pass Island Number Ten, and
any one asks what we've got aboard
tell 'em 'Pittsburg coal, but after that,
mind you, it's Kentucky, for we've Just
taken some out o the Sandusky."
As the cleverness of the pilots scheme
dawned upon the none too brilliant
minds Of the boatmen, they burst into
a hearty laugh and congratulated their
superior upon his strategy.
On, on they drifted, until the Missis-