The farmer and mechanic., 1912-03-05
MARK TWAIN'S FIRST
JOB AS RIVER PILOT
Nlb,-rt EigclOw I'ainc'~ account oi
the Humori~t's Apprenticeship
on the River.

Higclow Paine the authorized bios
rapher of Mark Twain. tells the S'ol!
of how the great humorist began ms
career as = Mississippi pilot Inc
facts of the story were all obtained
from CAPTAIN Horace RiNby, who |
taught Mark Twain. and In 1917 was
still at the wheel In 1897 Marx |
Twain went aboard tho Paul Jones |
Horace Iixby. pilot OF the Paul
Jones: then man Of thirty-tWo-stlii
living I910) and at the Wheel-Was
looking out over the bow AT the head
Of Island No 33, when he heard q
slow, pleasant voice say:
Good morning.
"Bixby was a clean-cnt, direct.
courteous man.
Good morning. sir. he said brisk
~, without looking around.
AS p rule Mr.. Bixby did not care
for visitors in the pilot house. Ihis
one presently came up and stood a
little behind him.
"'Iiow would you like a young man
10 learn the river"' he said.
The pilot glanced over his shoulder
and saw a rather slender. loose -liInbed
young fellow with fair, girlish COM
plexion and IL great tangie Of auburn
hair.
~ wouldn't like il. Cub pilots are
more trouble than they're worth.
great deal more trouble than profit
The applicant was not discouraged.
~ am printer by trade, he went
on, In his easy, deliberate way. 1T
doesn't agree with me. l thought Id
go to South America.
"Bixby kept his eye on the river.
but q note Of interest crept into his
voice.
What makes you pull your words
that way ("puiling" being the river
Ira he cd
The young man had taken u seat
on the visitors bench.
"'You'U have to ask my mother,
hc said. more sloWly than ever. She
puts hers too
pilot Hixby woke up and laughed: ::
ne had keen sense of humor. and the
manner Of the reply amused him.
Come over and stand by the side
OF m..' lie said. What is your name .
The applicant told him, and the
two STOOD looking at the sunlit water.
Did You ever do any steering? =
BlAby questioned.
II have steered about everything
on the river but Il steamboat, ! guess.
Very Well: take the wheel and see
what you can do with q steamboat.
Keep her as she iS-toward that lower
cottonwood Snag.
''Eixhy had a sore foot and was glad
of Il little relief. He sat down on the
bench and kept a careful eye on the
course. BY and by he said:
There is just one way that
would take a young man to learn the
river: that is, for money
What do you charge?'
Five hundred dollars. and I tt
be at no expense whatever
In those days pilots were allowed
10 carry q learner. or cub. board free
MIR Bixby meant that he was to be q
no expense in port or for fncidentals
tiis terms looked rather discouraging
4 haven't got five hundred dollar
In money. said sam; I've got a lot 0
Tennessee land worth twenty-fiv
cents an acre; III give YOU two thou
sand acres OF that.
"Rixby dissented.
No; | don't want any unimprOve
real estate. I have too much already
The young man reflected upon tn
amount he could probably borrow O
Panela's husband without strainin
his credit,
well then. I'll give you one hun
drcd dollars cash and the rest whe
I earn it.
Something about this young ma
had won Horace Bixby's heart .Ii
slow, pleasant speech his unhurrie(
quiet manner with the wheel, his ev
dent sincerity Of purpOse--these wer
eXternals, but beneath them the pile
felt something OF that quality Of min
VI AiCSiit uiNH A%lcI iiidOc Tic WOEf
love Mark Twain. The terms propose
were agreed upon. The deferred pay
nents We're to begin when the pup
bad learned the river and was recei,
ing pilots wages.
AT St Louis Sam borrowed frOl
Mr. Moffett the funds necessary
make up his first payment, and $
concluded his contract
Horace BlXby was q 'lightnin
pilot. with a method of instruction ;
Girect and forcible as 1t was effectiv
Ie was a small man, hot and uuic]
firing, though kindly, too. and gent
when he had blown Off After 0,
rather pyroteChniC misunderstanding
between them rs to the manner Of a
Quiring information, he said:
My boy, YOU must get a lit
memorandum book. and every time
tell you a thing put it down rig
away. There's only one way TO be