The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-12-15

bright red sparks, shot skyWafd from
the smoke-stack.
"Contemptible tin-soldiers" NUT
tered in the pilot house. "Fine lot OF
dudes come here to shoot down our fish
ermen. But they will not shoot them
tonight"
Then he turned the pilot wheel back
and forth to see that the rudder was in
working order. The boat gave lurch
and trembled as If frightened at being
disturbed while swinging so quietly to
its moorings.
~ will give these assassins trip for
their money tonight" muttered the
man at the wheel in meditative tones.
"When they find the fishermen they
will be so sick Of the sea that they will
do we'll to handle themselves let alone
gun"
A company OF the state national
guard filed off the train at the com
mand of their officer, Captain Budding.
The sheriff of the county led the way to
the boat. The soldiers had come under
indefinite orders as to time and brought
along a sufficient amount Of luggage for
seige. Most OF the men were clerks in
stores, and some Of wealthy men who
had joined the guard for good time
and they were poorly drilled. 1t re-
quired more than an hour to get their
baggage aboard the boat. The man in
the pilot house watch d them patiently.
He did not care how long they we're
kept there. He was out for delay and
would just as leave have it at one point
as another.
The pilot OF Columbia river boat is
universally called captain. He is
acquainted with the river as one is ac-
quainted with his own neighborhood.
He knows every snag in the river and
every point, as is required of a river
pilot.
When the soldiers we're aboard it was
found that II only contained the pilot,
engineer and one deck hand. There
was no one to instruct the officers as to
the point at which the fishermen were
assembled.
"rhis is strange" remarked the
sheriff to Captain Budlong. 81 expect
ed man here to give us the infor-
nation as we should proceed, We will
go aloft and inquire OF the captain"
The boat was now pulling at its
moorings. The steam was up and the
captain was trying the wheel. 1t was a
stern-wheeler and the great, wet thing
turned over like sea monster as the
long arms from the engine-room played
on the crank at the axis.
The sheriff and military commander
assembled the little iron stairway which
led to the roof Of the boat and approach
ed the pilot house.
"sorry, gentlemen, but you can't
enter" said the pilot.
"But this is the commander Of the
militia and he wishes to direct the
course of the boat when the scene OF
the trouble is reached" said the sher-
iff.
"The government regulations prohibit
all persons except the captain from rid
ing in the pilot house" said the pilot.
Besides, there is no necessity for it,
] know where the fishermen are and
will take you to them. They are 9
harmless, hard working sort of fellows
like myself and will give you no trouble
They will disperse as soon as they see III
coming"
Why have the owners of the boa
which we have chartered through the
state sent a southsider as pilot
inquired the sheriff.
"Because there is not man on thu
northside of the river whom the owner
would risk with the boat" was tn
quick reply.
The secretary Of state had wired bi
company at Portland to supply tn
militia with boat to convey 1t to tn
seat of the trouble between the fisher
men OF the two states and which tn
northside state chartered for an indeti
mite time. The steamboat men all live
on the south side of the river, the sea
ports all being on that side, In send
ing out boat under an emergency th
company had picked up a pilot who wa
related to and more or less identities
with the southside fishermen.
He knew of the proposed midnigh
attack of his friends upon the north
siders and did not intend to reach tn
actual scene of conflict in time for inter
ference on the part of the militia. III
had Intentionally left the representative
of the northside fishermen, who was t'
have accompanied the expedition as
sort OF scout, ON the south shore and
was prepared to evade collision with
the belligerents until his friends should
have the opportunity to do all the dam,
age they desired, The officers knew
that under the government regulations
they had no right to enter the pilo
house and after instructing the pilot Il
convey them Immediately to the seat o
the trouble they retired to the uppe
deck.
The boat steamed down the river lik,
a thing of life. The water was calm ant
the craft moved with the current with
out effort. Only the swishing of tn,
wheel that propelled the vessel brok,
the silence of the night,
When once out into the river the pilo
gradually turned the nose of the Graf
in a southwesterly direction. Th
Columbia widens her channe. as sh