The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-07-02
lie was Smoked Out.

"Wbat Caused Mark Twain to
Leave the River, or Why Great
Humorist Did Not Become a Second
jim Bludso, is one Of the books that
has never been written by Samuc! l..
Clemens or any one else. So far as
known, the story has never even ap-
peared in print, although it is vouchcd
for by several Of the old river men
who have the yarn spinning habit.
According to these authorities,
Mark Twain never became a full pied
ged pilot aud never stood night
watch alone. In other words, while
he had pilots license, his mastery
of the great river craft on which he
rode was always limited by the under
standing that an older and more ex.
perienced head was within easy call.
This was no discredit to the young
pilot.
On the occasion in question, it
matters not what year or boat, the
tue steamer to which young Clemens
was attached as cub riot was bound
up stream with heavy irgo of cot
ton. At the officers table the first
day OF from Natchez, Miss, the talk
turned upon what to do in sudden
emergencies, and especially in case Of
fire on steamer loaded with cotton.
The matter was discussed in all its
bearings, each Of those present giving
his ideas upon the subject. Mark
Twain, like most Of the others, held to
the notion that it was the pilots duty
In such an emergency tc emulate the
now famous Jim Bludso and "hold
her nozzle to the bank till the last
galoot's ashore.
Among those at the table was the
assistant engineer, young man whose
experience in life had taught him to
doubt the ability of human nature to
carry out the projects Of its more
boastful moments. He went below at
the same time Mark Twain went
aloft, but the two continued to think
OF the conversation just closed. The
more the engineer thought about it
the less credit he was disposed to give
to the cub pilots scheme.
AS every ono knows, the pilot house
and engine room of a steamboat are
connected, not only with bells for eg-
mailing, but with a speaking 1t be,
through which the important func.
tionaries who operate above and below
can discuss the weather and politics
in their spare moments. The mouth
OF the tube at the upper end is but lit
tie larger than the human mouth; but
in the engine room it has the space of
funnel as big as alf-bushel meas
ure. While the assistant engineer
was pondering the emergency ques.
tion he was also wiping off portion
of the machinery with bunch Of cot
ton waste, and as he reached the
mouth Of the speaking tube it was the
W ~ n Va puS luOmcuC u LOuCQ q
match to the infammable material in
his hand and thrust it into the tube.
No one saw the act, but everybody
on board heard from it in about
minute. Mark Twain, alone in the
pilot house and still pondering the
dire things he had heard from the
older hands about the hororrs of burn
ing steamboats,, especially when they
happened to be loaded with cotton,
was horrified to see smoke pouring
FROM the end of the speaking tube.
There was but one thought in his
mind. The boat was on fire. Drop
ping the wheel, which spun around
and around as it left his hand, he
grasped the rope by which the big bell
was sounded and began pulling like
sexton, at the same time raising his