Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-10-15
JIM'> LUCKY DIVE.

A ar@e pair Of heavily laden coal
boats, or "broadhorus" as "y were
termed swept out of the OHIO and,
catching the current of the NIGH y
Mississippi, began the second stage Of
the journey to New Orleans.
The numbering, cumbrous craft had
come all the way from Pittshurg under
the command of Joe Irick, Il most skill
full pilot. These coal boats were pecu-
LARRY constructed vessels, but they are
luW things of the past, their places he-
in supplied by large barges which arc
toNed back and forth by steamers.
They were built of one-inc, pine
boards. carefully selected. and any piece
of lumber containing but a single knot
was rejected No nails were use'I III put
ting the timbcrs together, but wooden
pins were called for.
hose fr4il vessels were loaded deep
with coal from the mines, then two
were lashed together side by side and,
with crew of thirty five or forty men,
would float serencly down the Ohio and
Mississippi to their destination.
The day in which our story opens Joe
Ir.k was standing in the stern of one of
tie boats, with the long steering oar in
hand. guiding his broadhorn on its way.
Br~,ln him was a lad about sixteen years
of "gr, Il handsome, intellgent-looking
boy. who seemed to be wrapped i'll Won
der and admiration at the subHmity OF
the scene that stretched out before him.
swell. Jimmy, my son, ere 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 fact, jim. But, you see, I'm
getting old and am apt to forget little
things like trip down the river. Now,
couldn't tell within fifteen or twenty
how many times I've been down stream.
"1hats not to be wondered at, re-
tur ,rd the boy respectfully, for you
were pilot long before was born. But
look, Wonder comes IA high pressure boat
up stream, and Jimmy pointed to a
de- cloud Of black smok, hich was
pouring out of the double stacks of
lar e steamer that was approaching.
Il. her come, my lad, let her come.
Shes got to keep out Of our way. Now,
I.,t would you say" contmu lrick,
"f could tell you the name of that
craft: and, what's more. Tia" name OF
tie man W ho is looking at Us now out Of
hrr pilot hou,., and likely enough wish
rrg us sunk down among the catiis for
pr,Sumll,y to get i'll his course. Yes,
my son. that's RIVER Queen, and JON
VI llirnls is her pilot.
"Uow can vou be SO positive at such y
!i-:amce:" asked thn boy, his gaz' still!
li\ctrd ON tn" boat
"Li,t,.n to that eXh ust, and joe Trick
turn Il is h ad 50 as to better catch the
peculiar sound. "'rhrre isn't another
'huukcr betwiXt Cairo and the Gulf with
such a voice as that. Now you'll s'e
when we meet Williams, le'lI lay the
River Queen rs close to this broadhurn as
he dares to. Its an old trick of his He
thinks to fright"n us, but here's hoss
that don't frighten so easily | tell you one
thing, Jimmy, he'll cut up that cap"r
once too often, and when he sends pair
of boats with their freight to the bottom
of the Mississippi Pm under the impress
sion that the owners will fire him ashore
on the bank, and then he'll have to take
TO coal ,ating himseli, like the rest of
us"
By this time the steamer was within
few yards of our friend, when she WAS
seen to c ange her course Il fraction.
There, boy, didn't l tell you? Jack
Williams has starb'ed his helm, thinking
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:
"HuIloa, Williams Up to your
old tricks again? ! reckon you
wouldn't have taken the trouble of chang.
ing your course if you'd a knoAn Joe
Trick was on board here. He don't be.
long to the scary breed. "
"Howdy, Joe," returned the man in
the steamers pilothouse. "Oh, no,
don't want to crowd you into the bank.
There's room enough on the stream for
two such fellows as you and l."
As Trick was about to answer, a shrill
scream was heard, issuing from the after
part of the steamer, and the same in.
slant child was seen to fall from the
rail of tho hurricane deck to the wat'r.
In second Jimmy, the boy boatman,
sprang across the coal until he reached
the edge of the broadhorn, and then
plunged head foremost into the muddy
current.
The heavy boats We're drifting fully
five miles an hour, while the steamer had
been making equally good time up
against the stream; consequently, when
the brave lad reached the little girl his
own ,raft as we'll as tn River Queen
were some distance away.
j. Trick was almost as quick to act as
his rrphcw. CrlIiug to the second pi.
lot" to take the steering oar he picked uIr
tine liltl' skiif that is always carried on
top of tn" coal, launched it and scating
himself upon the thwart held it in posi-.
tjon until the rescuer and his burden
dr. rtrd down within his rr.cl.
ENtr ding his hand, Joe seized the
chiIl and drew it into the boat, auyiHG to
Jlm.ny as he did so:
You Let huhi of t.c stern and ha'u;
ON there mll can lu'l down t. t,e
hr>adnorn. va aom't IT any wet rr
than You are ROW. HAd iIt' r'', 40 dan ,r
Of = erlo uib'tiinG ut your To 5.
"AlI right UucIr J,'. Don't bother
ah ut me | "vrrhou l.,r hntt~ h".
fore. ven now ---, urd TIA" boy. r,Ii.
j. ut ,ig, r"uSly, a'iu y d.d Ietv the
81 II l. .hi 81 ia lh" ra'" down the river.
Whn the broad ORA WAS r.rc .ri the
En- nllem in ~ 'rin?tn- arrnr Is,