Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-12-29
CHAPTER xxi.

The Cotton Queen was behind time
at Donaldsonville, and the hours that
we waited there were torturing ones.
What would have happened had pur.
suit overtalSen rs before the boat
came Is matter of certainty with mel
had found an opportunity to arm my
self. lie Fevre did the same. We ex-
changed significant looks but no
words. There was no need of words.
We had already earned term of inn
prisonment, and we and our fair
charge were not now to be captured
without bloodshed.
Aboard the Queen, and she rapidly
putting miles of the wide and crooked
river between us and pursuit, our
spirits rose. We did not then know
how narrow was our escape at that
point. We got our breakfast with
crowd of passengers, cheered up Coralie
and, bringing her again on deck, en-
joyed with her the glorious panorama.
We passed Plaquimine without stop
ping. LIE Fevre inquired of the cap
tain, and learned that there was to be
no stop until the boat reached Baton
Rouge.
do you stop there?"
"Of course. All the boats do"
This intelligence made us uneasy.
and we were consulting together about
what we should do to avoid the deten-
ton that we had reason to fear had
been prepared by telegraph for us,
when the most unexpected chance fa-
vored us.
stop at this point. to say that the
occurrences narrated in this chapter
came mainly under my own observa-
ton. The minor ones that did not
personally see and hear were after
wards told to me by those who did see
and hear them
The day wore on; the boat was with
in a mile of Baton Rouge. A call
from the pilots speaking tube brought
the captain up into the pilot house.
whats up Dobln?"
Look up the river" said the pilot,
with both hands on the wheel.
The captain shaded his eyes with his
hand, and looked.
Seems to be large steamboat put
ting out from Baton Rouge"
Take the glass, sir"
One look through the glass and the
captain threw it down, fairly jumping
with excitement
'The S. s. Prentiss, by - Why,
she left New Orleans twelve hours
ahead of u.s."
"She's been waiting for u.s." said
the pilot, quietly.
s'She has not waited for nothing,
then. I've heard of their brags from ST.
Louis down about what they'd do with
the Queen when they had chance. By
the Lord Harry, we1l show 'em!
Here's almost a straight course to Port
Hudson bluffs, and no chutes or side
cuts. I'll beat 'em or go to the bot
tomv'
He rang the engineers bell for moro
steam. Presently the black smoke be-
gan to pour from the lofty stacks In
clouds The speaking-tube brought
up the night-pilot, who was sleeping
in his berth. The two men at the
wheel kept their eyes fixed on the
glass front of the pilot-house, ready to
take any advantage offered by the cur.
rent or the curves of the shore.
The speed of the Queen was visibly
increased The vibration of her pow
erful engines could be felt in every
part of her The puff of the pipes and
the fierce churning of the paddles min
gled in steady sound
Baton Rouge was passed, many peo-
pie standing on the shore and waving
their hats and cheering Some OF the
passengers clamored up to the captain
that they must get off here, and that
they had freight aboard that was to be
delivered here.
You and your freight be d-dP
roared the captain, leaning out OF the
pilot-house. "Do you think the Queer
is going to stop race that we've tried
for months to get to oblige you?"
Hundreds of other passengers
laughed, cheered and applauded. The
excitement of the contest had by this
time spread all through the boat. The
bows were so crowded that some OF
the boats officers came and ordered
half OF the people back, that the boat
might not settle too much by the head.
Thousands of dollars were wagered on
the length of time before the Queen
would pass her rival A few disloyal
folks. who were willing to bet that she
would not pass at all, had the chance
promptly offered them to take ten to
one. Before the contest was deter
mined the Baton Rouge men were as
crazy with excitement as anyone.