Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-03-02

Fred Farrell stcadying the steam
brat'S wheel with one hand and knee,
leaned out Of the pilot house window and
dropI,cd an apple core upon the bald
head Of y man on the deck below. who
was watching two dcckhands coiling
shore line near the bow. The man look
cd mp quickly.
"G"uducSS," exclaimed Fred, drawing
hurricdly back out of sight. Il thought it
was Steve. It's my old boss. I'll catch
IL now
\ vnll"y ot angry cXplctives came surg
in. mp the ladder. Then the sight of
Pilot Bairl's inilamcd viSagr appearing
above the deck rail was too much for
Frod's resolution.
lie left the wheel. bottled through the
pilot house door and ran plump against
another man who was inspecting some
newly painted stripes around the tall
smokc~tacks.
Catch him, Steve" called Mr. Baird.
I'm learn him where 10 drop things"
Steve laughed loudly while the pilot
administered several vigorous cuffs that
sent Fred Keeling back into the pilot
house.
Grab that wheel" roarcd the master.
Fetch her round. II the river was low,
we'd been aground. Then you would "a
caught fits"
Fred. supprcSsing tendency To sob,
caught the wheel. swung the boat to her
course aud gluumily stared straight ahead.
Look here. Kid" added Mr.. Baird.
wiping his smooth bald place. what
a - gtt..b
Il thought you was MIR. Rawlcy. In
deed | did. sir"
Thought | was Steve Rawlcy. Ell?
Well, il Steve doesn't lick you, il is all the
more reason should give you another
dose. I'll even you up for the mate as
well rs myself. Lay aft there and climb
that monkey brace. Time you've spent
an hour mp there you'll have more respect
for your bcttcrS."
Fred went back 10 the smokcstackS and
began to climb the iron shrouds leading
to the great cildcd letters of the boats
name suspended high up between the tall
chmncys. just above this was the mon
key brace, and here he must cling rs best
he could 80 feet above the deck until his
master should order him down.
lie hitchcd his toes around the letter
ing and held to the iron rods Of the brace,
a tircSOmc and dangerous berth at best.
Clouds of black smoke occasionally en-
vclopcd him, the wires pinchcd his legs,
and the ShivCring jar of the whole fabric
made him dizzy.
GO night fell quickly. \ yellow haze
surrounded the steamboat, though every
thing beyond was blottcd from sight
Fred saw waiter 20 into the pilot house
with Bard'S supper. Fred felt hungry
Was he To 20 SuppcrlesS as an additional
punishment
Already he had found the glamour at
taching to the river life was largely inn
aginary. He found that on board the
pilot is dcSpot and his apprentice n
helpless slave. II the master was good
tempered, the slavery was lighter hut
the master was not always kind. and
cubs were often mischicvous.
The iron Rolls cut into his limbs, the
smoke half smothcred him, and nj last
he resolved he would remain up there no
longer, no matter what happened. He
slipped softly down the shrcuds while
the pilots back was turned and ran down
the back stairway toward the stewards
pantry.
The lower deck was piled with cotton
bales. Fred ran into the stewards room
and seized the first catahlcs handy.
'Im half starved. Nch." said The hoy
TO n solitary waiter who was present.
odd Baird has had me on the monkey
brace until just could not stand il any
longer"
"Marsc Baird is n hard one. sho." re-
turned Neb Sympathcjically. Don't you
want a cup Of cofrecF'
Cant wait. lie may miss mo-" Fred
vanished, tucking cold biscuit and ham
into his pocket and eating eagerly the
while.
The hoy reached the upper deck safely.
Then the rays from boats lantern were
flashed suddenly in his face. and Baird
stepped from behind one Of the smoke
stacks.
"Dowu without orders. ch? Thought
missed you. Just step inside here. will
YOU
As the boy was pushed into the pilot
house Mr.. Baird took a rattan walking
stick from a corner. lie had dashed the
wheel.
"Bccn eating. ch?'' he qucricd. "who
told you to come DOWN.
Before Fred could reply the pilot began
Gaming the cub. Fred lodged The Pilot
seized him by the collar. The cub Yelled
and struggled 80 hard that Baird. losing
all control of himself, struck the boy
with his fist.
Meanwhile the flashing 81 the wheel be-
gan TO loosen. and the boat swung sluuly
from her course. The cnraggd master
pushed Fred against the wheel. choked
him with one hand aud bclaborcd him
with the other.
At this juncture a violent shock threw
both man and boy TO the door aud com
plctcd the unlashing OF the wheel Then
came the grating. tearing sound from he
low that ran the length Of the Steamer
bottom.
The wheel made n violent revolution.
some of the Spokes striking Mr. Baird on
the head with great force beat him down
upon Fred's PROSTATE body. where h. lay
seemingly senSclcSs. 4 chorus ~ cries
rang out from the decks and cabins.
"A snIg, \ snag" shouted some
"We're sinking! All hands make ready
to launch the boats"'
Fred managed to regain HIS feet
Among the few passengers were several
women and children. When the sub ran
ont of the pilot house, the steamboat was
lurching to one side. \ tremendous roar
sounded, and the air was filed with steam
as the water put out the furnace hres.
The boats were putting of. Fred shout
cd. But he thought of his helpless maS-
ter, and despite the lattcr's cruelty the
boy would not go without making an rf.
fort to save the pilot. So he ran hack
and dragged Mr.. Baird from the pilot
house.
Nv this time all the hnots aDncnrpl 90