Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-07-27

E R /HA the small tub
M -7I= like steamer,
N% or, to be more
correct, steam
- barge, the
Bulldog, steamed past the sleeping
town of Gravesend at a good six knots
per hour
There had been a little discussion
on the way between her crew and the
engineer, who, down in his grimy
little engine room, did his own stoking
and everything else necessary. The
crew, consisting of captain, mate, and
boy, who were doing their first trip on
steamer, had been transferred at the
last moment from their sailing-barge,
the Witch, and found to their discom-
fort that the engineer, who had not
expected to sail so soon, was terribly
and abusively drunk Every moment
he could spare from his engines he
thrust the upper part OF his body
through the small hatchway and
rowed with his commander.
"Ahoy, bargee," he shouted, popping
up like jack-in-the-box, after brief
cessation of hostilities.
Don't take no notice of i'm" said
the mate. '"E's got bottle of brandy
down there, an he's 'alf mad. "
'Tf knew anything o them blessed
engines" growled the skipper, I'D go
an hit i'm over the head"
But you don't" said the mate, "and
neither do I. so you'd better keep
quiet"
"You think you're a fine feller, F"
continued the engineer, standing up
there an playing with that little
wheel You think you're doing all the
work. What's the boy doing2 Send
him down to stoke"
''Go down." said the skipper, grin
ming with fury, and the boy reluctant
ly obeyed.
You think" said the engineer, pa
thetically, after he had cuffed the
boys head and dropped him down be-
low by the scruff of his neck, you
think because I've got a black face I'm
not a man. There's many holly face
Ides O gooG -
"I don't think nothing about it,,
grunted the skipper; you do your
work, and III do mine"
Don't you give me none of your
back answers" beloved the engineer,
"cos won't ave 'em."
The skipper shrugged his shoulders,
and exchanged glances with his SYM
pathetic mate. "Wait till | get i'm
ashore" he murmured.
"The biler is wore out" said the en-
gineer, reappearing after hasty dive
below. ut may bust at any moment"
As though to confirm his words, fear
full sounds were heard proceeding from
below.
Its only the boy" said the mates
"hes scared-natural."
"I thought it was the biler," said the
skipper, with a sigh of relief. "It was
loud enough"
AS he spoke the boy got his head out
of the hatchway, and, rendered des
perate with fear, fairly fought his way
past the engineer, and gained the deck
every good" said the engineer, as
he followed him on deck and stag
gered to the side. I've had enough o
you lot"
Hadn't you better go down to then
engines" shouted the skipper.
"Am / your slave?" demanded the
engineer, tearfully. Tell me that
| Am your slave?'
$50 down and do your work like 6
sensible man." was the reply
At these words the engineer tool
| umbrape at once, and, scowling fierce
ly, removed his greasy jacket anc
| flung his cap on the deck. He ther
| finished the brandy which he ha6
brought up with him, and gazed owl
| ishly at the Kentish shore.
"rm going to have n wash" he said
| loudly, and, sitting down, removed his
| boots.
"Go down to the engines first" SAID
the skipper, "and I'll send the boy tC
you with bucket and some soap"
Bucket" replied the engineer
scornfully, as he moved to the side
"I'm going to have proper wash"
Hold him." roared the skipper, sud
denly. Hold him"
The mate, realizing the situation
rushed to seize him, but the engineer
with mad laugh, put his hands OF
the side and vaulted into the water
| When he rose the steamer was twenty
| yards ahead.
$50 astarnp' yelled the mate.
| "How can / go astarn when there:
nobody at the engines?" shouted the
skipper as he hung on to the whee
and brought the boats head sharply
around. Get a line ready"
The mate, with coil of rope in hi
hal d, rushed to the side, but his bene
VIOLENT efforts were frustrated by The
engineer, who, seeing the boats heaC
making straight for him, saved his lif,
by an opportune dive. The steamel
rushed by.
Turn 'er agin," screamed the mate
The captain was already doing SO
and in a remarkably short time th'
boat, which had described a complet,
circle, was making again for the engi
neer.
"Look out for the line" shouted tn,
mate, warningly.
81 don't want your line" yelled tn,
engineer. I'm going ashore"
Come aboard" shouted the captain
imploringly, as they swept past again
1--WE can't manage the engines.
Put her round again" said tn,
mate. "I'l go for him with the boat
Haul her in, boy"
The boat which was dragging
astern. was hauled close, and the mat,
tumbled into her, followed by the boy
just as the captain was in the middl,
of another circle-to the intense in
dignation of a crowd of shipping, larg,
and small, which was trying to get by
"Ahoy!" yelled the master of tug
which was toting large ship. TAX,
that steam roundabout out of the way
| What the thunder are you doing?"
Picking up my engineer" replied
the captain, as he steamed right across
the others bows and nearly ran dQwr