Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-01
THE BOY B0ATMAN.

Il lE DOl Qua NhN.
A large pair Of heavily laden coal
boats, or "broadhornsf as they were
termed. swept ont Of tho Ohio and, |
catching tho current Of the mighty Mis-
sssippi. began the second stage OF tho |
Journey 10 New Orleans.
The numbering, cumbrons crafts had |
come all the way from Pitsburg under |
tho command Of Joe Trick, a most skill |
full pilot. These coal boats were pccu- |
hnrly contributed vessels. hut they arc !
now things Of tho past, their places being |
supplied by largo hargos, which arc
towod back and forth by steamers.
They woro built Of i.inch pine boards,
carefully selected, aud amy piece OF luin-
Der containing hut u single knot was re-
1ected No nails were used IN putting
the timbcrs together. but wooden pins
were called for
These friil vessels were loaded deep
with coal from the mines, then two
were dashed together side by side, and
with crew Of thir,y-fyo or forty men
would iloat Hcrcnoly down the Ohio aud
Mississippi to their destination.
Tho day IN which our story opens Joo
Trick was standing In tho stern of one Of
tho boats, with tho long steering oar In
hand guiding his broadhorn ON is way.
Beside him was lad about sixteen
years Of age. q handsome, intelligent
looking boy. who seemed 60 be wrapped
in wonder and admiration at the sublime
ity OF tho scene that stretched out before
him.
"woll, Jimmy, my son. wore ON tho
old Mississippi once Ire. Let mo see;
this is tho third time or you. isn't it,
ayes. uncle, yyu know You have taken
mo twice yourself to Now Orleans"
"That's fact. Jim. But you sec I'm
getting old and am apt TO forget little
things like trip down river Now
couldn't tell within fifteen or twenty
hcw many times fvo boon down stream"
That's not 10 DO wondered ut, re-
turned tho boy. respectfully, "for you
were q pilot long before | was born.
But, look, yondcr comes high pressure
bont up stream" md Jimmy pointed 10
n dense cloud Of black smoke which was
pouring ont Of tho double stacks OF u
largo steamer that was approaching.
"l.et her come, my lad, let her come.
She's got TO keep out Of our way. Now,
what would you say" continued Trick.
II could tell you the namo of that craft;
and. what's more. the name Of the man
who Is looking nj rs now ont OF her
pilot house, and likely enough wishing
us sunk down among the catfish for
prosuming TO get In his course. Yes,
my son, that's the River Queen, and
John Williams Is her pilot"
"liow can you be 80 positive at such n
distaneer asked tho boy, his gaze still
rivoted on the boat.
"l4istcn 90 that exhaust" and Joe
Trick turned his head so as 10 bettoi
catch the peculiar sound. There isn't
another hooker botwixt Cairo and tn,
Gulf with such n voice m that Nov
you'll SEQ when we meet Williams, ho1
lay tho River Queen ms close to thi
broadhorn "a he dnros to. It's an olt
trick OF his. lle thinks TO Brighten ~
but here's hoss that don't frightcn 81
easily. toll you ono thing, jimmy
he'll cut mp that caper once too often
and when ho sends pair OF boats will
their freight 20 the bottom of IN
Mississippi I'm under the impression
that the owners will fire him ashore OF
the bank, and then hc1l have v take /
coal boating himself like the rest Of MS.
By this time tho steamer was within
few yards Of our friend, whom she wa
seen to change her course fraction.
"There, boy, didn't tell youY JAG
Williams has STABBED his helm, thinl
ing to raise our hairr Then in lou
voice, which could have been hear
from one side Of the river TO the othol
Joe called;
"Hulloa, williamsl Up TO your ol
tricks AGAIN. | reckon you wouldu
have taken the trouble of changing yor
course II you'd known Juo Trick W.
on board here. lilo don't belong to Il
scary breed"
"Howdy, Joe" returned the man
tho steamers pilot house. "Oh, no,
don't want to crowd you into tho ban
There's room enough on the stream (,
two such fellows rs you and l."
As lricl; was about TO answer, shri
scream was heard. issuing from u
after part OF tho steamer. and tho san
instant child was seen TO fall from q
rail OF the hurricane decl; TO the water
In a second jimmy, the boy boatma
spraug across the coal until he reach,
the edge of tho broadhoru. aud thu
plunged head foremost into the mud,
current.
The heavy boats were drifting ful
FIVE miles IN hour, while the steam
had been making equally good tia
up against tho stream; consequent
when the brave lad reached the lit
girl, his own craft us well as the RiN
Queen were some distance away.
Joe lrck was almost as quick 10 {
as his nephew, Calling to tho "seco
nilot" " take the steering oar he piel,