The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-20

Fhantom. but somehow when those old
Gays get into nay head old associa tons
crowd en- me and fail into digressfon
and rumination. But / reckon/I will
round the point directly and come
straight ahead on both wheels and not
get 'sheered' off any more from the
main channel, for l haven't got time
to hug the bend side when the point
Ias plenty Of water without using the
lead.
We'll. as / said, we started out IN
der pretty bright circumstances; hand
kerchiefs were waved, bands played
cannon numbered from the Wharves Of
portland, JeneTsOnville and New AL
D2ny, and a line of people fully two
mics and half long througed both
aides of the Ohio. Never did a boat
start on her initial trip with happier
prospects. But she never had any
T. luck. On the rirst trip out the .Phan-
tom stopped a Pecan Point. and asgen-
tIeman, Two ladies and a lad about s
Years Of age came aboard. The boy
had "A big black and white spotted cat
which he Rugged like a mother does
her brst born. That night the captain
came into the pilot house for smoke
ana quiet chat, as was his custom.
Tor we had gone to school together
when we were barefooted boys up in
a Kentucky village that nestles dream
lily IN the Ohio valley, and to which
my memory clingS with a fondness
mat no other place can inspire 1t was
a beautiful night. The sky was dotted
with stars ana the paddle wheels might
nave been heard a half-mile back from
the shore. The steam coming from the
escape pipes sounded ike the regular
breathing of some giant of the fabu-
lous long ago. To the starb0ard side
all was dark with the shade Of the
great forests and reminded me of the
solitude or Robinson CrusOe a little
ahead was q narrow sandbar stretch
ing itself from a dark line of cotton
wood trees, whose shadows were like
the ghosts OF evil actions, until it
reached the waters edge and was lost
in the star-lit stream As far as nv
eve could reach the river was per-
tectiy straight, but / knew that it
turned suddenly like an arm akimbo.
On board all was silent save the mo-
notonous throbbing of the engines, the
striking Of the paddle wheels in the
water, the puff Of the steam pipes and
now and then the lonesome voice of a
rouster singing snatch of verse from
some river song.
Did you see the folks we took
aboard at Pecan Pointg I asked.
Do YOU mean the man. the two
ladies' and the little boy asked the
captain.
Yes. and the cat, too
Well, what Of that
Did YOU see the cat. captain?'
Certainly, and a fine specimen it
was. too
1 don't deny that, but somehow
don't like it.
Now. there you go again with your
superstition; really l am surprised at
You, for you are an educated man. II
you had been reared on the river fror-
a cabin boy up TO your present posi-
ton l wouldn't wonder in the least at
some OF your notions and your belief
IN signs. But you went to school and
was brought up by educated parents.
and you never went on the river I'M
III you were past 20, but at times YOU
have as much superstition as an old
time sailor that had been reared in the
forecastle of Norwegian merchant
man.
I know that. but somehow T cant
help it. l guess l caught the super
SUTTON when ! caught the river fever.
and you know ! always loved the river
ever since / sailed tiny boats i'm the
pond back of the schOOlhOuse where
l learned my letters, and | can't helm
believing that no boat will ever have
Soou luck that carries a cat her first
trip and especially if that cat has
olack spot / don't mean that this boat
VIII blow up or burn. but l am afraid
she will have bad luck of some kind
Well. we'll see said the captain.
and even if she does turn out badly
that poor innocent cat will not have
anything to do with it one way or the
other
Here the conversation ended and the
captain went below 10 his room in the
Texas and turned in for the night.
hope he is right. thought / as
/ held the jackstaff on a star that
tWlnkled ahead. Just as I was about
10 turn the wheel over TO my partner
ne hrst mate came into the pilot house
to get a light for his cigar.
Hello. Bill said ne to me. Did YOU
see the cat that boy had that got on
IN at the Doint?'
Yes