Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-29
THE BOY B0ATMAN.

OOAtR. or 'DIObuuHhb 10y WV
termed. swept Gus Of ths Ohio and.
catching the current OF the mighty Mis-
sissippi, began the second Aase o. The
Journey TO New Orleans.
Tho numbering, cumbrous crafts had
come all the way from PittsbuBg under
tho command Of Joe Trick. most skill
full pilot. These Coal boats were pecu-
liarly constructed vessels. bat they are
now things Of the past. their places being
supplied by large barges. which are
towed hack and forth ~ steamers.
They were built Of l-inch pine bosrds,
carefully selected, and any piece Of lun'
her containing but single knot was TO
,ected. No nails were used In putting
the .imbers together, but wooden pins
were called Tor.
Those frail vessels were loaded deep
with coal from the minee, then two
we're lashed together side BY side. and
with crew of thirty-fve on forty men
would float ser@ely down the Ohio and
Mississippi TO their destination.
The day IN which osr sto.y oi. - Joe
hick was standing in the sUrc Of one q
the boats. with ti.o lOoy steering oar fn
hand si,ihn.; Liza hroedhoiI G. - VA.
Beside him was O lad ebGrt Estc0
years NJ age. handsome. Intelligent
looking boy who seemed TO be wrapped
IN wondor and admiration AZ the sublfn-
ity OF the scene that stretched out be(oes
him.
We'll. Jimmy. my son. wo'ro on the
old Mississippi once more. Let me SEQ;
this IL tho third time for you, isnt itf'
yes. uncle. you know you have taken
me twice yourself to New Orleans.'
That's fact, Jim. But you see I'm
getting old and am apt po forget little
things like q trip down r1ves, Vow ]
couldn't tell within fifteen or twenty
how many times I've been down stream"
That's not to DO wondered at, re-
turned the boy, respectfully. ''for yOu
wero a pilo< long before ! was bosu.
But. look, yonder comes high pressure
boat mp stream md Jimmy pointed to
dense cloud of black smoke which was
pouring out Of the double stacks Of q
large steamer thai 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 Htck.
II could tell you the name OF that craft;
aud. what's more. the name of tho msh
who Is looking az ns now out o< bes
pilot house. and likely enough wishing
as sunk down among the catfish Tor
presuming 10 get IN his course. Yes,
my son. that's the River Queen. and
John Williams b her pilot
~Row can you be 30 positive a. such
distanceT asked tho boy. his gaze still
riveted on the boat
"Listen to that exhaust and Joe
trick turned his head 10 as b better
catch the peculiar sound There Isn't
another hooker betwtxt Cairo and tho
Gulf with such q voice a. thak. Now
you'll SEQ when we meet Williams, hen
lay the River Qnsn as close 10 this
broadhorn ~ he dar1 TO. It's an Old
trick Of his He thinks to fighteu IA.
but here's hoss that don't frighten 20
easily. tell you one thing, Jimmy.
he'll cut up that caper once too often,
and when he sends pair Of boats with
their freight to the bottom OF the
Mississippi I'm under the impression
that the owners will fire him ashore On
the bank. and then he'll have to take 20
coal boating himself, like the rest of us
By this time the steamer was within
few yards OF our friend, when she was
seen TO change her course o fraction.
There. boy, didn't tell youi JOCK
Williams has starb'-ed hts helm, think
ing to raise our hairr" Then In q loud
voice. which could have been heard
from ono side Of the river TO the othss,
Joe called:
"Hulloa, Williams! Up 10 your old
tricks again1 | reckon you would1t
have taken the trouble of changing your
course II youd a known Joe Trick wss
on board here. He don't belong to the
scary breed"
"Aowdy, joe returned the man IN
tho steamers pilot house. "Oh, no.
don't want to crowd you into the bank.
There's room enough on tho stream for
two such fellows ~ you and I.
As Trick was about TO answer. q shxfl
scream was heard, issuing from the
after part Of the steamssA and the sme
instant child was seen 30 fall from the
rail Of tho hurricane deck TO tho wa11G.
In second jimmy, the boy boatrnAn,
sprang across the coal until be tInched
the edge of the broadhorn, anl hsn
plunged head foremost Into the m60dV
current
The heavy boats wero drifting AAfly
five miles an hour. whiho tho steamer
had been making equally good tizne
mp against tho stream; consequently
when tho braye had reached tho httaa
girl. bis owe oraft ~ woll a. tAs Rfva
Queen wore some distance away.
Jos hick was slinost ~ Quick 70 81
as his nepttew Calling 10 the "uoond
pilot to take tho steering or hs ptked
up the iittle skf. that 10 alwsyS carried
an top Of tho coal. launched 1t. and scat
ing himself upon tue .'-wart held n b
position until the rescu6~ and his burden
drifted down within his reach.
Extending bis hand. Joe seized th<
child and drew u into tho boat. saying
to Jimmy ~ he did 30:
"You gee hold Of To storm and hanG
on there until I can pull down 10 ths
broadhorn. You won't gsa any wetta
than you ars DOW aud 0herSs no dangea
Of tha eels anibbling at your toes."
IAN righA Unclo Joe. Don't bottles
about me. can overhaul tho boses be
fone you. now And Tho boy skrikins
out vigorously actually did lesvV tn
akifY bahind In tha raca drsv-n tho ,-tvcr