Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-12-16
vance,
CHAPTER XIX.
A Traitor at the Helm.

tered by the state. The sheriff OF Pa
cihc county was there to meet it and
had been waiting many hours. Mat.
tiers managed by state are always de-.
layed.
kalama is on the banks of the Co.
lumbia river and also on the line of
railroad that crosses from north to
south.
An old fashioned boat was tied up
at the decaying and totteling wharf.
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.
Contemplate tin-soldiersr" NUT
tered the man in the pilot house.
Zine lot OF dudes come here to shoot
down our fishermen. 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
a lurch and trembled as if frightened
at being disturbed while swinging go
quietly to its moorings.
81 will give these assassins a trip
for their money tonight" muttered
the man at the wheel in meditative
tones. "When they find the fisher
men they will be 90 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 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 sufficient
amount Of luggage for a siege. Most
Of the men were clerke in stores, and
some Of wealthy men who had Joined
the guard for good time and they
were poorly drilled. 1t 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 a Columbia river boat
is universally called captain" He
is acquainted with the river as one is
acquainted with his own neighbour
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,
ermen 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 alof, and inquire Of the cap
tain"
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 it's axis.
The sheriff and military commander
ascended 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 il reached" said the sher-
if.
1.-THE government regulations pro-
hibit all persons except the captain
from riding in the pilot house," said
the pilot. Besides, there 10 no
necessity for it. know where the
fishermen are and will take you to
them. They are harmless, hard
working set Of fellows like myself and
will give you no trouble. They will
disperse 40 soon as they see us COM
ing"
Why have the owners Of the boat
which We have chartered through the
state sent . southsider as pilot
inquired the sheriff.
"Because there is not man on the
north side of the river whom the own
era would risk with the boat" was the
quick reply.
The q CT etary Of state had wired a
big company at Portland to supply the
militia with boat to convey it to the
seat of the trouble between the fish
ermen of the two states and which the
northside state chartered for an in.
definite time. The steamboat men all
lived on the south side Of the river,
the seaports all being on that side
| In sending out boat under an emeF'