Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-12-16

riverbank where stood a solitary store
house, and some thousands of cords of
dry wood, ready for use. Two white
men of the class which had never
been two miles away from the river
sat and dangled their rusty boots In
the water, and with some profanity
and vast expectoration of tobacco
Juice, hotly argued the unsettled
question as to which was the fastest
boat. the Cotton Queen, or the s. S.
Prentiss.
"Thar comes the Queen now" said
the champion Of that craft. "Ah, but
she's beauty! If she ever kitches the
s. s. on this water she'll walk right
off'n her"
"She'll never cotch her."
much you know bout boats"
20, you talk! | was sailin' the Mis-
sissippi when you couldn't tell q pint
o. water from hogshead O. lasses."
The discussion was in fair way to
go on forever" but the near ap-
proach of the stately Queen put an end
to it. Heralded by great volumes Of
smoke beyond the point, and by that
peculiar, deep-drawn coughing of the
pipes that accompanies one of these
river monsters, she burst into view like
q splendid apparition. reminding one
Of the genii of the Arabian Nights.
Her great paddles churned the river
into foam. Twilight still prevailed,
but the signal colored lanterns were
hung out fore and aft and aloft. and
lamps were lit in the saloons. state
rooms and cabins. Tier upon tier the
great height of the steamer rose from
the water, the light flashing out from
every opening. Surrounding the
whole was the Texas" or pilots
cabin. with the gilded figure of "a queen
displayed in front of it, seated on a
gilt-corded bale of cotton. The lofty
smoke-pipes lowered from the decks.
Everywhere the boat was crowded
with people.
I had long ere now recovered from
the amazement with which I learned
that wharves and docks were unknown
in these waters, which deepen rapidly
from the shore, and that these steam
ers are SO light of draught that, to use
the quaint language of the illustrious
man who thoroughly knew the west,
they can go anywhere where the
ground is a little damp" The Queen
came straight up to the shore; the two
loungers who had been discuss .ng her
and her rivals took the cables that
were thrown out and moored them to
the trees; and Immediately a swarm of
half-nsked negroes sprang ashore. and
under the urging of the mate, with an
occasional oath and blow, began to
take in wood for the long passage
down the river. It was work Of some
time. and darkness succeeded, the
moon rising late. An open iron bas-
ket, fixed on a standard at the bow,
was filed with fat pine knots. continu-
ally replenished as they burned out.
The fierce red light flared out over the
dusl1y faces and fitting forms of the
negroes. and gave occasional glimpses
of the passengers as they leaned on
the rails and watched the picturesque
scene. MIR. Dorion. standing at my
side. suddenly pinched my arm.
Look up there on the second deck,
just beyond that group of ladies. DO
You see that tall man with the red vest
and check shirt-front:''
Yes"
II haven't seen that face in twelve
wears: but can't be mistaken in it,
That man is Conrad Bostock. Dorr. !
hate to have you go on the same boat
with him! II you are wise -"
The bell rang sharply "All aboard"
the captain sang out.
wrung Mr. Dorion's hand. and
passed over the plank. There was a
great CONFUSION of the engines and
splashing of the paddles as the Queen
backed out into the stream. looked
toward the landing. but my good
friend was hidden in the darkness.
AS our boat steamed down the river
went about on this floating palace and
observed the curious sights
To- py 1ourrNIfRn