Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-23
Stewart
Edward White

stretches Of the river a crowd 81 men
working, antiike.
They've got EN- stopped" comment
ed orde. "Look at that gang working
from boatsv'
What do you want me to dog'
asked Captain Marsh.
This is navigable river, isn't itr'
replied Orde. run through
The tug headed straight for the
slender line Of booms stretching quite,
across the river.
Orde looked at his watch.
"We'll be late for the mail unless
we hurry" said he.
Marsh rang the engine room bell.
The water churned white behind.
"vat you do? Stopw cried Heinzman
from boat.
you're obstructing navigationv'
yelled Orde. Owe got to go to town
to buy postage stamp"
The prov Of the tug, accurately
aimed by Marsh, hit square in the
junction of two OF the booms. There
ensued moment of strain; then the
links snapped, and the Sprite plunged
joyously through the opening. The
booms, swept aside by the current,
foated to either shore. The river was
open.
"Slow down, Marsh" said Orde.
"T cts sec tho show"
Up river all the small boats gathered
in a line, connected one to the other
by rope. The tug passed over to
them the cable attached to the boom.
Evidently the combined efforts of the
rowboats were counted on to hold the
half boom across the current while the
tug brought out the other half. When
the tug dropped the cable Orde laughed.
Nobody but a Dutchman would
have thought of that!'' he cried. "Now
. for the fun!"
Immediately the weight fell on the
small boats they were dragged ire
sistibly backward. Marsh lowered his
telescope, the tears of laughter stream
ing down his face.
They'll have to have two tugs be-
f"e they can close the break that
way" commented Orde
Sure thing" replied Captain Marsh
But at that moment a black smoke
rolled up over the marshes, and shortly
around the bend from above came the
Lucy Belle.
The Lucy Belle was the main excuse
for calling the river navigable. In ap-
pearance she was two storied, with
/ twin smokestacks, an iron Indian on
her top and "splutter behind" paddle
1 wheel.
There comes his help" said Orde.
| Sure enough, the Lucy Belle stopped.
After a short conference she steamed
clumsily over to get hold of one end
of the booms. The tug took the other.
In time and by dint of much FLASHING,
some collisions and several attempts
the ends of the booms were united.
| By this time. however, nearly all the
logs had escaped. The tug, towing a
string Of rowboats, set out in pursuit
The Lucy Belle turned in toward the
tug.
'She's going to speak u.s." marveled
Orde.
| TUG ahoyr beloved red faced in
dividual from the upper deck. He was
dressed in blue and brass buttons and
was literally festooned with gold braid
and embroidered anchors.
Hello there, commodore! What is
| ftp" replied Marsh.
'"They want tug up there at Heinz
mans. Can you go?"
'Surer' cried Marsh, choking.
: The Lucy Belle sheered of magnif-
Gently.
"What do you think Of that?" Marsh
asked Orde.
Head upstream again"
! Heinzman saw the Sprite coming
and rowed out frantically, splashing
! at every stroke and yelling with every
breath
Don't you go through there! Wait
a minute! Stop. tell your \
''Hold upv' said Orde to Marsh.
| Heinzman rowed alongside.