The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-02-19
about il the wind. I watched Intent

trusting my eyesight. while that first
wisp deepened into q cloud, advanc-
ing slowly toward me. There was no
longer doubt Of what 1t was-unques-
tionably some steamer wal pushing Its
course upstream. Even before my
ears could detect the far-oh chug OF
the engine the boat itself rounded the
sharp point of the headland and came
forth into full view, heading out
toward the middle of the river In q
search for deeper water.
It was an unusually large steamboat
for those days, a lower river packet,
/ guessed, with two tunnels painted
yellow and a high pilot house sur
mounted by q huge brazen eagle. At
first, approaching me, bow on, l could
perceive but little Of its dimensions,
nor gain clear view of the decks, but
when it Feered slightly these were re-
vealed. and I had a glimpse Of q few
figures grouped forward, the great
wheel astern splashing the water, and
between, a long row Of windows re-
flecting the glare Of the early sun.
Even as I gazed at this vision a flag
crept up the slender staff at the bow
and reaching the top rippled out Iii
the crisp breeze. A moment later l
deciphered the lettering across the
white front of the pilot house-Adven-
turer of Memphis. -,
Indifferent at that moment as to
where the approaching boat might be
bound, or my re ception IN board; de-
sirous only of immediate escape from
my unfortunate ~predicament, 1 man.
aged to remove my sodden coat and
furiously wave 1t In the air as a sig
nal. At first there was no response,
no evidence that I had even been
seen; then slowly, deliberately, the
steamer changed It's course and came
straight up the = river, struggling
against the full strength of the cur
rent. I could see a man step from
out the pilot house onto the upper for
ward deck, lean out over the rail and
speak to the others below, pointing
toward me across the water. A half
dozen grouped themselves at the bow,
ready for action, their figures growing
more sharply defined as the struggling
craft approached. The man above
stood shading his eyes with one hand
and gesticulating with the ether.
Finally the sound Of his voice reached
me.
. "Hey! you out there! II you can
swim jump for it. I'm not going to
run into that snag.".
l measured the distance between MS
with my eye and leaped as far out as
possible, striking out with lusty
strokes. The swift current swung me
about like a chip, and swept me down
ward In spite of every struggle. I
was squarely abreast Of the boat, al
ready caught in her suction, and be-
ing drawn straight in toward her
wheel, when the looped end of a flying
moose struck my shoulder. 4
"Keep your head, ladl" roared out
a hoarse voice. "Hang on now, an
we'll get yer"
It was such q rush, such q breath
less, desperate struggle I can. scarcely
recall the details. All I really remem-
Der is that I gripped the rope and
chung; was dragged under again and
again; was flung against the steamers
side, seemingly losing all conscious
ness, yet dimly realizing that out
stretched hands grasped me and lifted
me up by main strength to the mar
row footway, dropping me there in
the pool Of water oozing from my