The progress., 1904-03-05
DISGRACE OF A PILOT.
Forced by Young Husband to ApOl-
OEixe Humbly to His In
suited Wife.

| Col. F. M. Posegate, now of St. Louis,
but formerly of st. Joseph, and once
mayor of the latter city, is one of the
old citizens of this state and knows its
early history as well as almost any
body, says the Kansas City Journal.
In recent reminiscent article the col
onel remarked that the pilots on the
steamboats, which used to ply the Mis-
souri, river were usually gentlemen,
and their pilot house was great re-
sortfor ladies en- route. In one instance,
however, a lady was insulted by a pilot
and thereby the colonel hangs an inter-
esting tale.
Early in the '5O's,' he says, "a
young Kentuckian was en- route to
his new home in Missouri on his bridal
tour. He had been to the pilot house
with his wife and was delighted with
the treatment received and afterward
said to her: Whenever you feel dis
posed it will be perfectly proper for
you to go to the pilot house alone.
The next day she did so, but only re-
NAMED few moments and upon COM
ing down hunted up her husband and
told him of the insult that had been Of
fered her by the pilot. The young man
quieted his wife, lett her in charge of
the stewardess and then proceeded to
the upper deck with the purpose of
shooting the man who had dared to
offer an indignity to his bride.
"He was cool enough, however, to
realize the danger to the passengers
should he kill the pilot and thus leave
the boat without guiding hand.
Therefore he bided his time in order to
deal out to the bastard punishment
worse than death. His opportunity
came that night. In the crowded front
lobby of the cabin there were possibly
100 passengers assembled. The pilot,
being off duty, came into the room and
the young man approached him, saying
in voice loud enough for all to hear:
My wife tells me that you offered her
an insult in the pilot house to-day and
l demand an apology.
"The man hesitated, attempted de
NAL. but the young husband, whipping
out pir+al end covering the fellows
ih1ead, said: No denial but down on
your knees and give me an abject apol-
ogy or | will blow your brains out
Rapidly the passengers gathered
around the parties, but not word was
spoken. Down on your knees or i
will fire. And down on his knees went
the pilot, and the young man said: Re
peat after me, 81 insulted your wife in
the pilot house; the act was bastard
ly one, anu she gave me no cause for
acting toward her as / did" Now
said the young husband, L have some
thing further. Raise your right hand.
Have you a mother? No, she is dead.
Then swear by the memory of her.
Have you a wife?' Yes. Then swear
by your belief in her virtue Have you
a child? Yes Then swear by your
love for it. Have you sister, Yes
Then swear that you would avenge
any insult ever offered by man. Swear
by all these in addition to your hope of
happiness in all eternity that you will
never again offer insult to a woman, be
she maid, wife or widow, white or
black. Swear or fire. The pilot, with
uplifted hand and bated breath, made
the vow in the presence of God and the
assembled passengers.
"The young husband was avenged
and the pilot was told to go, and duY.
Ing the rest of the trip he did not show |
himself among the passengers or at the
wheel, the other pilot and the cub
steersman standing his watch.
"The scoundrel was not only dis
graced, but broken Of his standing and
never stood at the wheel, at least of any
Of the steamers on the Missouri packet
|ine,"