The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-11-18

craft. Despite his ticket there was |
none so foolish as TO trust him with |
one-a condition OF affairs which had
tended to sour a disposition not nat
urauy sweet. The yearning to com
mani steamboat gradually had de
veloped into an obsession. Result
the fast and cOmmOdious 8. s. Mag
gie." as the United States marshal
had had the audacity to advertise her.
In the beginning, Captain Scraggs
had planned 10 do bay and river tow
Ing with the Maggie. Alas The
first time the unfortunate Scraggs at
tempted to tow heavily laden barge
up river, a light fog had come down,
necessitating the frequent blowing OF
the whistle. Following the sixth long
blast Mr.. McGuffey had whistled
Scraggs on the engine-room bowler;
swearing horribly. he had demanded
to be informed why in this and that
the skipper didn't leave that dod-gast-
ed whistle alone 1t was using up his
steam faster than he could manufac-
ture It. Thereafter. Scraggs had used
patent foghorn, and when the hon
est McGuffey had once more succeed
ed In conserving sufficient steam to
crawl up river, the tide had turned
and the Maggie could not buck the
ebb. McGuffey declared a few new
tubes In the boiler would do the trick
but on the other hand, Mr.. Gibney
pointed out that the old craft was
practically punk aft and stiff tow
would jerk the tail off the old girl. In
despair, therefore Captain Scraggs
had abandoned bay and river towing
and was prepared to jump overheard
and end all, when an opportunity Of
fered for the frelghting Of garden
truck and dairy produce from Half
moon bay to San Francisco.
But now difficulty arose. The new
run was an Outside" one-salt water
all the way. Under the ruling of the
inspectors, the Maggie would be run
ming coastwise the instant she en-
gagged in the green-pea and string bean
trade. and Captain Scraggs' license
provided for no such contingency. His
ticket entitled him to act as master
on the waters of San Francisco bay
and the waters tributary thereto, and
although Scraggs argued that the Pa
cific ocean constituted waters 'tribu
tary thereto" II he understood the
English language, the inspectors Were
obdurate. What If the distance was
less than twenty-five milesl they
, pointed out. The voyage was unde
, niably coastwise and carried with 1
! all the risk Of wind and wave. Ant
: in order to impress upon Captain
Scraggs the weight Of their authority
4 the inspectors suspended for 81,
. months Captain Scraggs' bay an
! river license for having dared to ne
, gotiate two coastwise voyages withou
|, consulting them. Furthermore. the
= warned him that the next time he di
~ 1t they would condemn the fast an
r. commodious Maggie.
re In this extremity, Fate had sent
I'd Captain Scraggs q large, imposing
In capable. but socially Indifferent pc
IN son who responded to the name
he Adelbert p Gibney. Mr.. Gibney ha
IS spent part Of an adventurous life
the United States navy, where he he
4 applied himself and acquired IA
smattering Of navigation. Prior to e
4 tering the navy he had been for
a mast hand in clipper ships and h;
Il held a second mates berth. Folio
"A ing his discharge from the navy
ha coil CT CT
n ers, and after attending a navigate
school for two months had procur
O license as chief mate of steam, n
ocean and any tonnage.
Unfortunately for Mr. Gihney.
M had a failing. Most of us have. r
III most genial fellow In the world,
l,1 was cursed with too much brains a
4 Imagination and thirst which
Qnircd quenching around pay d.
Also he had that heastly habit
IA command which Is lnseparabe from
XXI born leader: when he held fl
"run tie ship" and. on occas'o
ladle out suggestions TO his skipp
Thus, In time, he acquired n repu
Y ton for being unreliable and Wi
bag, with the result that skipp
/ were clary OF engaging him. Not
\ be too prolix, ut the time Capt
i Seraggs made the disheartenng
coverv that he had to have a skip
for the Maggie, Mr., Gi'ney 70,
himself reduced to the alternative
longshore work or fo'castle berth
n windiammer, bound for blue wat,
With alacrity, therefore, Mr.. {
ney had accepted Scrnggs' offer
rted seventy-five dollars a month,
low found"--to skipper the Maggie on
into coastwise run. AS first mate
light steam he had no difficulty Undue
um the inspectors to grant him lice
him to skipper such an abandoned C,
3. as the Maggie, and accordingly
10 hung up his ticket In her pilot he
sey and was registered as her master,
I to belt. under a gentleman's agrcen
Rat with Scraggs he was not to claim
tive, title OF captain and was known
,mos tho world No the Mnppip's first n,