The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
RIVER PLOTS LIFE EXCELS FICTION

VIII be on nreH
Naturally I didn't waste much time
with the wheel after that had a girl
TO take care Of. and I fell down the
stairs leading to the cabin in my haste TO
get to our cabin. Cholted by smokes
thick smoke that nlad every nook and
corner Of the saloOn-sI ran TO her berth
and beat on the door. Twice I struck
without getting an answer. Then push
/ ed the door in. The girl was lying on her
bunk half dressed. evidently having
fallen into a faint after trying 70 escape
from the place. I picked her up and car
ried her to the boats side. and the cool
night air revived her.
. Now. be brave 1 cautioned. I'm go-
ing TO jump overheard WITH you. and you
must keep tight hold on me until we find
something drifting that will support U.s.
Keep a tight hold
'T don't think she heard what I said.
although she seemed conscious. A mo-
ment later jumped from the burning
steamer and did not stop swimming until
I was'ten feet away. ] held the girl with
my left arm. and exerting myself Just
enough TO keep above water. looked
about me. Near US was a huge bale OF
cotton. which had been thrown over
board by the men when the fire started
It formed a splendid raft. ! padded
over to II and lifted the girl on II. hoping
shore. The bale was too heavy TO be
moved against the swiftly running cur
rent. and after a few futile efforts /
climbed on It beside the girl"
saved GunbOat's Crew.
On two occasions Capt. Heating active
ly helped the United States government
IN its war with the Southern States. One
was when he saved a gunboat's crew
49,
crate lines near Red River and notifying
Gen. Banks troops OF their predicament.
and the other time was when he piloted
the Forest Queen past the IRE OF the
rebel forts near Vicksburg and saved the
only steamer out OF feet Of six which
were to be used for transporting Union
troops across the river.
THE time 1 passed the ConfedeIzts
troops" said the old pilot. Il carried my
heart In my mouth for three solid hours
Physical suffering Il bad. but mental suf-
fering is Infinitely worse.
p "On this occasion the steamer OF which
was pilot was stranded without provi-
sions in the Red River. The Confederates
had the boat watched. so II was SUPPOSED.
and the men. on the vessel. determined
not to surrender, were slowly starving to
death. / should mention that the steam
er was the converted gunboat Kickapoo.
''At the end OF the third day OF suf-
fering the captain called for volunteers to
seek TO pass the rebel lines and inform
Gen. Banks in the Union camp OF our
plight. 1 offered to go with one sailor as
my assistant. We were dressed as Con-
federate soldier in the dirty brown and
gray uniform so much in vogue, and
started forth on our mission.
ut was a dangerous task at best-so
dangerous that we were not expected to
escape alive. Ny missive to Banks was
wrapped in a thin strip OF oiled silk and
was placed between the outer and inner
soles Of my shoe. For three hours we
walked, and finally We met an old SOL
der, who told US, for a drink, where the
Yankee camp was located.
Wounded by sentry.
Il yelled out that We were friends and
advanced toward the sentry. whom 1
could dimly see by the pickering light
of the campfire Walking ever so slowly,
with my heart in my mouth. trembling at
The result and thinking OF the awful fate
hat awaited the men on the Kickapoo
should the sentry be Confederate. ad-
When was within ten feet Of
him gave an almost inRrticulate cry OF
10y. His uniform was blue.
Il ran toward him with my arms out
stretched. Astonished beyond measure,
be drew back, and as I was about to en-
brace him he lunged with his bayonet,
me in the breast.
A Confederate" I heard him yell as
staggered toward the campfire. The
onicer OF the guard came to me ana
caught me In his arms To him gasp
ngly explained my errsnd. begging him
10 take me TO Gen. Banks quickly, that =
might deliver my message before L
oled to death. He tore open my shirt
md discovered that the wound IN my
breast, while serious. had done nothing
more than to lacerate the flesh
As soon as 1 could be bandaSed up
vas taken before the general, and TO him
presented the message from the cap
ain OF the gunboat Then was carried
% a cot. where 1 slept until the after
loon OF the second day, when I heard the
listant rumbling of cannon and the
harp, swapping report or many rifles,
cling of a battle in progress. Smoke.
hick and hazy In the autumn sun. could
e seen rising above the forest trees.
How Banks troops won the victory and
escued the gunboat Is a matter OF his
ory.
The next day was driven back with
military escort over the road had
-aversed previously as a spy. It was a
hastily sight, that road, for many a
ian gave his life to save the Kickapoo."
Then came the pilots epfc-the story OF
ow he sailed the Forest Queen past the
sbel forts at vicksburg and saved
rants tired army from exhaustion by
ringing over the re-enforcements-
I was young, very young" said he.
when Grant was besieging Vicksburg.
1 that time the Union forces wanted tC
ring up six boats to ferry troops across
le river above the city. The largest Of
iese was the Forest Queen. I remem-
er being taken before Grant and being
as the best pilot on the
Iississippi River
Souvenir from King.
+" You're young" remarked the great
sneral.
= Yes. sir I responded, but know
ie river
+" 4 don't like to intrust the best boat
the aeet to this young fellow com
aimed Irant to one OF his men,
His tone angered me. Without ego
sm 1 may say that was as good
lot as sailed the ] ississippi River. and
-ide OF profession prompted me to
,eak.
a 1 didn't know that you were look
q for an old man.. reamrked, was
IA you wanted somebody to guide the
orest Queen sbove the rebel forts
ink my anger pleased him Anyhow,
, allowed me to take the helm OF the
,rest Queen. the largest OF the six boats.
1--WE had hardly left our moorings be-
re the smokestacks OF one OF the boats
Iot a mass OF nery sparks into the air.
ne town bell in Vicksburg. that dread
call TO arms. could be heard by the