The Tupelo journal., 1906-06-08
WRECK OF THE NANCY JANE

| WRECK OF THE NANCY JANE
Story Of the Exciting Voyage Of
Singular Craft with Land
lubber Crew.
ut looks as If she would strike the
bank, commodore"
"She can't help striking. She's 60
ing to smash! Shut her off there!
Look out for the crash! Hand me
the handspike! The handspike hand
me! Help with this pole pike! Look
out there, look out! OH"
In spite of the noble efforts Of the
crew, the good ship Nancy Jane bored
into the Clay county bank of the
Missouri river, relates the Kansas City
Star The commodore, DR.. Elliott
Smith, in a bathing suit, dashed
around the bow of the houseboat seek
ing safety, just as the crash of the col
| lision came. He was caught in hur.
ricane Of falling earth, flying spars.
and breaking pikesA The earth COW
cred him as he fell on the deck, and
he arose bleeding about the legs from
seven cuts caused by the teeth of
pixies and the splintering of poles and
spars. The doughty commodore
washed his wounds, stuck bits OF
newspaper ON them, and resumed COM
mand of the craft. 'I'll stay on the
bridge, if she Sinks" he hissed. "All
hands on deck; clear away the wreck"
he next shouted.
1t was an exciting voyage, the
maiden trip of the Kansas City boat
clubs new boathouse. With dozen
members on board. the Nancy Jane
dropped down the Missouri river and
cast anchor at the mouth Of the Blue.
The log of the voyage shows that 1t
was interesting all the way.
At half-past four o'clock the boat
weighed anchor (15 pounds) at the
foot of Delaware street. A salute to
the commodore was fired from the one
gun on board 1t was 50-pound can.
non, with muzzle the size Of a
troomstick. 1t was rammed with the
uduulC VI d lCdtuCl ouotC1. L hO ShASA
gunner's mate tied some tow on a
stick to fire the gun. but failed after
several efforts.
"Give me a cigarette!" roared the
chief gunuer's mate.
A cigarette tied to stick touched
off the gun, and the river echoed to
the roar of the Nancy James port bat.
terry The captains mate was making
lemonade on deck when the cabin boy
came by and stepped in the bucket.
Ruined" cried the mate.
Don't throw it OUT said the
bo's'n; eve can use that to christen
her." So he piped all hands aft, and
the Nancy Jane received her baptism
of lemonade.
"Man overheard! Man overboard!"
arose a cry.
Throw him a line! Too late. Man
the cutter and put out after him.
A man had launched one Of the
small boats between the two steam
launches, which were conveying the
houseboat, and Just as he cut loose
| IuG UOdI IuIuCu lul TIC Oh aho
doused him in the turbulent tide. He
came up blowing like a sperm whale,
| and struck out for the capsized boat.
At the cry of MAN overboard!" the
commodore stripped off his rigging
and donned a bathing suit. He
launched canoe with the aid of many
hands, and set out to the rescue Of
the man with the capsized boat, who
| was fast fading in the Off1ng.
"Well have to shut off the paddles
or they'll never make it," said the
crew. All the crew gathered to star
board to watch the rescue, and the
boat listed heavily. The next thing
that was noticed was that the boat
was drifting ashore.
Were going to hit. Well smash
all those boats tied there
The Nancy Jane struck the shore
among a group of rowboats. Jump
ashore with a hawser!" cried the
mate. Everybody lent a hand, and
the boat was moored without destruc.
ton to the smaller craft. Again she
got under way, and picked up the
commodore and the rescued man.
Next came the collision on the other
bank, when the commodore was near
| ly lost. Turned back into midstream
again, they took soundings. The boat
was on a "hog-back" and nearly
aground.
"How much does she sound?" asked
the commodore.
"Only three feet" replied the mid
shipman.
"How much does the Nancy Jane
draw"
Eighteen inches"
In entering the Blue she went
aground. One launch hooked on
ahead and all hands helped shove of.
The bo's'n in the captains gig was
so interested in watching the boat he
| was towing that he forgot to steer his
launch, and ran ashore. Up the grassy
bank it ran and rested in "the shade
of the old apple tree" All this to the
humiliation Of the battle-scarred COM
modore, who was on the bridge.
At last the good ship reached its
destination, and the jolly jack tars
took a street car home. "Oh, for
life on the bounding MAN," they
sighed.
Gilded Fowls.