Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-06-18
FIELDS OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DARING
DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.

Den of Mathematics.
The following extract Is from the
log book of Mississippi River steam
boatman:
During the late war / was engaged
rs engineer on board Government
transport. At the memorable siege Of
Nicksburg my boat was ordered down
there with a load of troops. On the
Fourth of July the city of Vicksburg
was surrendered. A few days before
the fall of Vicksburg L was ordered
from one Of the sidewheel transports
on to n large sternwheeler, then I'M
dergoing repairs ut Mound City. I'M
mediately on taking charge of the new
boat was ordered to raise steam, and
when we We're all ready orders came
to back out.
We were under sealed orders, which,
on being opened, proved to be instruc-
tions for MS to go to Vicksburg, and
there take on three hundred wounded
soldiers and transfer them to Louis
vile. Our down trip was unattended
by anything more than stray shot
now and then from the guerrillas in
the thicket. Our crew consisted of a
full complement of officers, fifteen men
on deck. and one hundred soldiers as
n consort to guard us against an at
tack from the enemy. When we were
safely moored at Vicksburg, carpen-
ters were set to work converting the
boat into hospital.
All things being ready, we backed
out with our three hundred wounded
soldiers, and also hundred and fifty
Confederate soldiers that were being
taken to Northern hospital. Our
voyage was unusually quiet; the woods
seemed less dangerous than at any
time since the war, no shots having
been fired Mt us since our downward
trip. We were Mt the foot of Island
Thirty-seven, when the incident oc-
cured that prompted me to write this
sketch--an incident that causes the
blood to almost freeze in my veins as
my fancy wanders back to the time
when I saw death staring me in the
face, and me powerless to avoid it. I
came ON duty at 2 o'clock at night,
and as T walked down the guard a
feeling of indescribable loneliness
seemed to seize my fancy, and in spite
Of all my efforts to throw it off, it
seemed to increase as / neared the
engine room. I entered the engine
room, and, so far as could see, every
thing was in good order, and my part
ner was in splendid spirits, and jok-
ingly said
Don't blow her up with all these
people on board"
l was at that time al old and ex-
perienced engineer, with IN estab-
lished reputation for skill, and the
strange admonition rather confused
me. 7 felt sure the same feeling had
taken possession of my partner that
haunted me; however, imade no re-
sponse, but proceeded to inspect the
machinery, as was my custom. l
might have been an hour looking
around when, looking up, l saw a
wild-looking man appear in the engine
room door, wearing the uniform of the
Confederate army. paid no atten-
tion to him, but went on with my duty.
Presently, thought L heard some
one slipping up to me. [ turned my
head and saw the man standing near
me with an iron wrench raised over
my head. i raised my hand to ward
off the blow, but too late, only dull
dizziness, and 1 knew no more.
When I came to I saw sight that
almost paralyzed me; there L was,
bound and gagged, while the man that
struck me was watching the steam
gauge with eagerness, which already
indicated pressure of 175 pounds.
The "doctor" was stopped. AS I
opened my eyes they caught the eye
OF the soldier who, with Il maniacal
laugh, said:
"There's a boat after us, and I'm
going to keep ahead of her. This
boat don't make steam easy, so I
thought would stop the "doctor," "
and he laughed again at his own per-
spicuity.
Great heavens! was it true that I
was bound by mailman, who imag
ined he was racing with another steam
boat, and was raising more steam in
order to win the race? [ knew that in
a few moments a horrible explosion
must inevitably follow, and hundreds of
people probably be killed. What if he
should happen to change his fancy
and start the "doctor"?
Steam increased until it indicated
21O pounds. I held my breath and
closed my eyes. Eagerly the mad
soldier noted the increase of steam,
and with n fenlish look said:
II guess I'll start the doctor.
I saw him but his hand on the
throttle valve, saw the "doctor" start
with a thump that fairly shook the
whole boat, and for several seconds
the "doctor" ran, but was not throw
ing any water. 1 held my breath, ex-
pecting to be hurled into eternity,
when 1 saw the other engineer enter
the door. At glance he saw it all
and with o well-directed blow felled
the maniac to the floor.
Instantly orders to haul fires saved
us, and many prayer was offered up
for our safe deliverance. =. The man
that came so near blowing up the boat
had once been steamboat engineer,
but going into the army received q
wound in the head from which he lost
his reason. On this night he had es.
capped from his guard.
Struck Den of Snakes.
Firemen rarely ever know just what
to expect in answering an alarm, but
it is not often they calculate on run.
ming into den of snakes, as was the
case when they rummaged through
the little building at No. 43 Farm
street, in Savannah, Georgia, on re-
cent morning in an effort to extlnguisl
q fire. Two of the fremen were in
the midst of den of twenty-e eight
poisonous rattlers several moments,
but miraculously escaped without be-
ing bitten.