The Western news., 1904-12-14

railroad that crosses from north to
south.
An old fashioned boat was tied W.
at the decayjng and totteiing wharf.
A dark form sat in the pilot house
looking out at the crowd as it emerged
from the train. A danger light hung
from the port side, and at the ap-
proach OF the train, dark smoke, in
termingled with bright red sparks,
shot skyward from the smoke.stack.
"Contemptible tin-soldiers!' NUT
tered the man in the pilot house.
"Fine lot of dudes come here to shoot
down our fishermen. But they will
not shoot them tonight"
Then he turned tho pilot wheel
back and forth to see that the rudder
was in wol king order. The boat gave
lurch and trembled as If frightened
at being disturbed while swinging so
quietly to its moorings.
II will give these assassins q trip
for their money tonight" mutte1ed
the man at the wheel in meditative
tones. when they find the fisher.
men they will be 80 sick OF the sea
that they will do we'll to handle
themselves let alone a gum"
A company of the state. national
guard fled off the train at the COM
mand of their officer, Captain Bud
long. 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 q siege. 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. It required more
than an hour to get their baggage
aboard the boat. The man in the pilot
house watched them patiently. He
did not care how long they were kept
there. He was out for delay and
would just as lief 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
acquainted with his own neighbor-
hood. He knows every snag in the
river and every point, as is required
OF river pilot.
When the soldiers were aboard it
was found that it only contained the
pilot, engineer and one deck-hand.
There was no one to instruct the off.
GERS as to the point at which the fish
eImen were assembled.
"This is strange" remarked the
sheriff to Captain Budlong. II ex-
pected a man here to give US the in.
formation as we should proceed. We
will 20 aloft and inquire of the cap
tain"
The boat was now pulling at it's
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 it's axis.
The sheriff and military commander
aecended the little iron stairway which
led to the roof of the boat and ap-
preached 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 pro.
hibit all persons except the captain
from riding in the pilot house," said
the pilot. Besides, there is nc
necessity for it. know where the
fishermen are and will take you tc
them. They are harmless, hard.
working set of fellows like myself and
will give you no trouble. They will
disperse as soon 40 they see US com.
ing"
Why have the owners Of the boat
which we have chartered through thu
state sent = southsider ~ q pilot
inquired the sheriff.
Because there 10 not q man on tn.
north side OF the river whom the own.
ers would risk with the boat" was tn,
quick reply.
The secretary of state had wired {
big company at Portland to supply tn,
militia with boat to convey it to tn,
seat OF the trouble between the fish
ermen OF the two states and which tn,
northside state chartered for an in
definite time. The steamboat men al
lived on the south side OF the river
the seaports all being on that side
In sending out boat under an emer
gency the company had picked up {
pilot who was related to and more o.
less identified with the southside fish
ermen.
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 in
reference on the part of the militia
He had Intentionally left the repre-
sentative of the northside fishermen
who was to have accompanied the ex
pedition as sort OF scout, on tn,
south shore and was prepared to evad'
q collision with the belligerents unit
his friends should have the opportun
itv to do all tho DAMAGE fhev desirod