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The Huron Signal, 1881-08-05, Page 2l i r 1 L X 11 THE PILOT'S STORY. We had grown up together,aa it were, Mollie and I, our permute being near near neighbors, and -whip does not al- ways follow -firm friends as well They were poor; and I suspect that had such to do with their friendship, for opportu- nities were always turning ep for help- ing one another, mid I haws often notic- ed that when near peighbom are well off and have no need for mutual help there is very seldom any friendship between them -there is mon apt to be jealousy and cos•petition. Our pulsate being such good friends, it naturally resulted that Mollie and I followed their example. We went to school together, read together, played together; and somehow, when Mollie was eighteen and I was twenty we agrerd to live together all our lives, and where very happy in that arrangement; in fact, no other would have seemed right or natu- ral, either to us or our parents. From the earliest days of my boyhood I had a fondness for the water, haunting the palatial steamboats that floated oil the greet Mississippi river, on whose banks nestled the city in which we dwell: and at the period to which I am about to refer I had just secured a position ea pilot on a small freight steamer. It was not such of a position to be sure, nor was there much of a salary at- tached to it; but, small as it was Mollie and I decided that we could make it an- swer for two popple, neither of them ex- travagant or unreasonable; beside' which 1 had hopes of better times to come, as I had received words of commendation from my employers, and a promise of speedy promotion. So, early one bright morning, having obtained a day's leave of absence, Mollie and I were married; and stepping into a carriage I had ordered for the occasion, we started off, having decided on a day's excursion to • celebrated ave near by, this being all the wedding trip we could allow ourselves. Not that we cared in the least, however; we were too happy to be in the least disturbed by any short- comings of purse. We had scarcely driven beyond our own street • when we were brought to a halt. A messenger whom I recognized as belonging to . our steamboat company hailed me. j "Here's a note to you from the super- intendent." Thus it ran: - "Am sorry to have to recall your Leave for to -day, but you must tmmediately go on board the Mobilia, which is ready to start up the river. The pilot is too ill to attend to duty, and you are appointed to take his place for the present." "There -goes our wedding trip all to smash," says I, as Mollie read the order. "Why so ?" she asked. "You see I must go into the pilot house of the Mobilia." "Very well," she replied. "We shall jest go up the river instead of to the c ave. Drive on Bob; let us go down to the wharf in state." "But you can't go into the pilot house with me, you little goose." "Of course not; but I can sit on the deck outside," laughed Mollie, "and we o in cast languishing glances at each other. " And so it came to pass that I took possession of the Mobiiia'a pilot house, my heart glowing with love and pride; with love, for there just below me on the little forward deck, sat ray sweet bird; with pride, because the Mobilia was one of the finest of the most beauti ful floating palaces on the Mississippi, and to pilot such a one had fur many years been the height of my ambition. The steamer was fitted with a double cabin, one above the other; the upper one opening upon a small deck reaching toward the Mow, near the centre of which stood the pilot -house. This deck was always occupied by passengers, and this morning it was particularly crowded, for the boat was heavily laden with peo- ple taking advantage of the beautiful weather W make an excursion on the river. Some rough fellows jostled against Mollies chair after a while, and she rose and pseud down into the lower cabin, "to get a drink of water," she whispered to me as she passed; but I suspect it was to prevent the bursting of the thunder clould she saw gathering on my brow. I saw that the insolent fellow trade no attempt to follow my dear one, w I gave myself up to my own happy thoughts, and as I looked out un the far distant peaceful shores of the great river, over whose placid bosom we were moving so swiftly, there rise from my heart a glad, mike* hymn of rejoierng. Bet seddsily a cry broke from the imbue behind me. that •tisetuslly chang- ed the cermet of my th o.ghts. "Fire ' Fire ! Fin '" A horrible cry at all times, but mast hornbk of all when it rings forth in the midst of gay, u nsuspicious hsadreds floating in fan- cied .senrity in the midst of the waters. An instant's awe struek silence suc- ceeded that awful cry, and then three hundred voices of men, women and chil- dren united in fearful, heartrending shrieks for help "Fire ! Fin ! The !" Aye. there was me mistake •hoof it: THE HURON SIGNAL, FRIDAY AUGUST, ;), 1881. no fake alarm No use could tell bur it had commenced. Bot then 11 was. creeping along the roof of the ttgtper's- hin, with the deadly Dames grunt* lap- ping up every scrap dawning sad cur- tain they could lied upon their way, eves and anon darting keg $ungues of uses down to the gear to sleep the taxes and chairs and setae's in their leg emhmes. As well with a sieve try to aeoep up the waters of the great river oro whkh the Mobilia floated, se try to stades the roaring devouring\I enemy that seised Up- on the ill-fated u amen. The people darted down from the blas- ing upper cabin to the forward deck be- low, where u yet the foe had made but little headway, and where oyr brave cnpt in -who was in the right place -- succeeded in partially quelling the panic. "Keep quiet !” he ordered -"keep quiet, and stay just where you are, or I will not answer for the lives of any of you. The steward willprovide all of you with life preservers; but there is no need for any one to go overboard -not yet awhile, at any rate, unless suicide is desired. Keep quiet, I say ! Pilot, head her straight to the land,half • mile ahead." (We were at least twice that distance from the mainland on either shore.) "Engineer, put on all steam -crowd her on ! We will run a nue with the foul fiend who has boarded the Mobilia." There was an instant's pause, and then with a groan and a surge, with the tim- bers creaking and straining, the win- dows rattling, and as though in mortal terror, the Mobilia gathered herelf up to run her last race. Each purring moment the flames crept on and on, never pausing in their terri- ble march. Fortunately they leaped up- ward rather than downward, so that there was yet but little danger in the panic-stricken crowd on her lower deck. But the pilot house was directly in the track of the flames, and already their ad- vance guard was begieling to surround me, singing my hair and eyebrows. Suddenly there was a murmur among the people, below, and the next instant a light form flew up the ladder lead- ing the little deck by the pilot house, and before I could say a word my pre- cious Mollie had thrown open the door, and closing it again, stood at side. "Mollie, Mollie !" I cried. "For heaven's sake go back, go back. Don't you see how the flames are creeping to- ward here l Go, go, my dearest --my own true wife! Don't unman me by making me fear for you. Go down where I can feel that you have *chance of safe- 'ty "Rob Thorne !" she exclaimed, with her eyes looking atraightinto mine, "Am I your wife ?" I "Surely, surely, thank God !" I mut- tered. "But go, go ?" "My post is here, just as much as yours is,' she answered firmly. "I will stay here, Rob; and if you die I will die too. We will make our wedding trip together, my dear husband, even if it be into the next world. Keep to your du- ty and never mind me, Rob. There is hope for us yet; and if it conies to the wont, why" -and a grave sweet smile crept round her lips -"we are still to- gether, dear love." I saw it was no use to urge her any more, and, besides, something swelled in my throat, so that I could not utter a word, so I just gripped the wheel hard and looked right ahead, though every thing looked very dim just then; and my devoted darling stood calmly at my side, watching the flames that were creeping closer and closer upon us, leap- ing around the pilot house like hungry demons impatient for their prey. "Thorne !" shouted the captain, "come down. Lower her and yourself over the rail. We'll catch you. You cannot stay there any longer. We are very near the shore now, and the rest we'll take our chances on." It was an awful temptation. 1 knew that, did I follow the captain's advice, both Mollie and I would be safe, for I was a good swimmer, and should the boat not reach the shore, I could save her and myself; but if I did this would de- liberately expose every one of these three hundred souls on board to destruc- tion ? True, the boat might keep to her course during the short space remaining to be passed merely from the impetus of her approach, but again she might not -and then I looked at my wife enquiringly. "Stick to your post, Rob," she laid. "No, sir !" I shouted back. "I shall .tick to my post; I shall stay hen till I rep her cleat on there, or die filet." "My breve Rob -my noble Rob," murmured Mollie. But alas for my devoted Mollie ! alas for oN ! Not the pilot house only, but bet the entire deck around it was now surrounded by flames. It was ton late for us to lower nameless to the deck be- low. The railing was all ablese d el w 41 g My arms, released from their guar. ianahip over the wheel, clasped Mollie pee to my heart; but my eyes and brain •re busy seeking for some mad• of escape from death that seemed each in- tent more and more certain. All at once my eyes rested on the pad- • box. It had not taken fin yet --the ying spray had saved it. i had only to dash serous the flames swept desk and fling open a little dear in its aide, whish atoeded ready acmes to the wheel, to lower ay precious charge to the water benast& in safety. No sooner thought of theta dace. "Take nay head, Mollis," I said, "sod run attar me. We shall be weed after all. Wisp your shawl across year mouth. Ne, now ---rue 1" "Leaping down cm the deck, we sped head in rand 10 the paddle box. I dash- ed open the little door, and pushing Mollie inside, passed in myself, and drew the door clow again, shutting out the eager flames whose angry roar pur- sued us as we dropped gently down into the shallow water beneath and crept from under the wheel Ouy appearance was hailed with a shout of delight and relief, for all had given us up for lost; and we must have boon but for the heaven inspired thought of the wheel house. Now, that the danger was over, poor little Mollie fainted, and no wonder. But she soon came out all right, and as the people began to find out that the "brave little girl," as they called her, was really a bride of only a few hours, and that we were on our wedding trip, there was a regular ovation, followed up by nine deafening cheers. The inland upon which the Mobilia had been beached was low, sandy and uninhabited- altogether not an inviiing place for three hundred people without • particle of shelter to pea a day upon. Yet, even in this plight, there were few grumblers in our midst. ' There was no room iu our hearts for any feeling bot that of thankfulness for our preservation from a tearful death, and after the peril of the last hour or two, it seemed a small matter to wait pa- tiently for the coming of the relief boats that we knew wire sure to arrive before many hours went past. Though some miles from any large city we knew that the burning steamer must have been wen from the farm hou- ses scattered sparsely along the river bane , and that from thew notice of the disaster would be seat to the nearest town. And so it was. Before nightfall several small steamboats had arrived; af- ter that but a few hours elapsed before we found ourselves safely at home, and our adventurous wedding trip at. an end But the results were not ended by no, means. The terrible nervous strain I had endured, combined with the severe burro on my :ace and hands, threw me prostrate on a bed of sickness. When I eau able to repot: for duty again, two weeks loter, I learned that a noble gift from the Mobilia's grateful passengers -no less a sum than $1,000 - lay in the bank awaiting my order. Not only this, but the steamboat company had voted me a gold medal and the ap- pointment of the finest steamer on their line. Years haye gone by since my brave wife and I so nearly journeyed out of the world on our wedding trip. From pilot I have come to be captain and part own - of one of those beautiful floating palaces that used to excite my envy; but never do I peas wiihout a sickening shudder the little island whese the Mo- bilo won her lot race -a race of fire against steam, of life against death. The Late Ir re. ala..ah CI.Q Who has not heard of "Aunt Hannah?' In the early days of Methodism, on what was then known as "the Mait- land," her nine was even more familiar to the people of McKilloa and especial! of the "Maitland settlement," than even it has been in latter days, and was asso- ciated with everything that was good in intention and kind and benevolent in action. Her home in those days was open to all, but in an especial manner to any one who came as an expounder of the Gospel, whether as • travelling or circuit preacher, or as a local brother who was attempting to preach or exhort. When special services or missionary meetings were being held, it is not too much to say' that she did what would have been considered now -a -days an ex- cellent hotel business, with this differ- ence, that with her, everything was done after the scriptural fashion "without money and without price." Mrs. Cluff died on the morning of the 45th inst., after an illness of about two weeks. Her constitution had fairly broken down and general weaknessbrouugght her life to a clow in a calm and peaceful manner as true Christians die. $be repeatedly said that she had no desire to live and did not wish any parson to pray for her re- covery, as she wanted to "enter into that rest that remain•th for the people of God." She was buried is Harpurhey Cemetery on the Nth inst., and her funeral notwithstanding the wet .tate of weather was one of the largest we are in the habit of seeing in this part of the county, the procession of carriages ex- tending about halt • mile in length. If the weather had been fair no doubt it would have been larger. Deceased was • native of Ireland, and came to this ooantry in the early days, hence it may be said that she "Dore the hest and bur - then of the day." She was 66esu of age st the time d her death, but was frail and feeble as one of ib years, partly on sealant of an accident which had laid her up some years ago, and frost which she only partly re,xrvered. Now that she ie goes we would say that a kinder hearted woman never lived or died since time began to run its course. Of her it Wight well be mid, "Mark the perfect, and hold the upright for their end is peace. "-{Agin. Ailimursrhees, indigeatios, Co.rstipa- tion--all forma of Dyspepsia yield at moss to • few doses o1 d^Pm", the new compound from Brasil A 10 rent am- ple proves it The nem War M sa.ee.d. Judge M--, a well known jurist living near Cincinnati, was fund of re - Wing this anecdote. He had ones oc- casion to sand to the village fur a wpm - ter, and a study young fellow appeared with his tools. "I want this lens mended to keep out the cattle. Thane are some enplaned boards use them. It is out of sight from the house, so you nasi not take tints to make it a nest job. I will only pay you a dollar and s-hslL " The Judge went to dinner, and, com- ing out, found the man carefully planing each board. Supposing that he was try- ing to make a costly job of it, he ordered him to nail them on se once just as they were and oontinued his walk. When he returned the boards were planed and numbered ready for nailing. "I told you that this fence was to be covered with vines," he said, angrily. "I do not care how it looks." "I do," said the carpenter, gruffly, carefully measuring his work. When it was finished there was no part of the fence au thorough in finish. "How much do you charge 1" asked the Judge. "A dollar and • half," said the man, shouldering his tools. The Judge stared. "Why did you spend all that labor on the job, if not for money 1" "For the job, sir." "Nobody would have seen the poor work on it" "But I should have known it was there. No; I'll take only the dollar and a half." And he took it and went away. Ten years afterward, the Judge had the contract to give for the building of certain magnificent public buildings There were many applicants among mas- ter -builders, but the face of one caught his eye. "It was my man of the fence," he said. "I knew we should have only good, genuine work from him. I gave him the contract apd it made a rich man of him." It is • pity that boys were not taught in their earliest years that the highest success belongs only to the man, be he carpenter, farmer, author or artist whose work is most sincerely and thoroughly done. The Caddish and the Clam- ♦ Table. A Codfish was one day mailing around in search of some one who might be in- clined to a dispute, when he came across a Clam. This was in the days when Codfish put on a heap of airs over the Clam tribe, and this particular fish stuck up his nose at that particular Clam and said: "Here you are grubbing away on this sand -bank for a living, while I have journeyed over a thousand miles in the lot four weeks." "I am quite content," replied the Clam, "I am near sighted, slow on foot, and nature did not intend me to travel far. Neither of us makes more than a living, and I am satisfied if you are." "Yes you have an outlandish shape," sneered the Cod. "Why, there's neither head, nor tail, nor legs, nor arms to you. Your eyes are scarcely to be seen, one little grin for a cent would split your whole face open" "Mv eyes are plenty large enough to see that no two fish in the ocean can agree. I have no cause to smile. What you say about my form is true, but I make good chowder for all that, and I have no lines to trouble the throats of humanity." "Well I'm thankful that I wasn't born to begin and end my days in a sand- bank. I go everywhere. I take in all free lunches. Small fish fear me, and big ones can't catch me. See how I glide around." The Cod took a circle around to show off, stood on his head, flourished his tail, and then asked: "Cee any of the Clam family do half that.., "As I said before," replied the Clam, "we were not cut out for either orators or acrobats. What I can do I try to do well What I can't do I let alone and don't worry over..' At that moment a fist -book nicely baited dropped down between them. "Now, If you only had a little more mouth you weld get enough at one gulp to last yogi all day," remarked the Cod as be eyed to bait "As it 4., you may stand by and w me take in the ban- quet. Just w what mouth wiliaoT one in the world." He opened his mouth, trade a dive for the bait, and was shoat to wink at the Clam with his left eye when he was suddenly pulled out of the water aid larded in a boat Morin -It is everything is knowing whoa to shut up. A healthy man never thinks of lis stomach. The dyspeptic thinks of noth- ing else. Indigestion is a western re- minder. The wise man who ends him. self .offering will spend a few rents for a bottle of fwtyoras, from %mil, the naw and remarkable compound fav cleansing and toning the system, for amid- liver the property es end the liver to th sent ors choir duties in assimilatingthe nod. Geta 10 wimple of Ursa, the new tweedy, of P'. Jordan, druggist A few doses will surprise you AFTER TEE FIRE. JOHN STORY The T1.smtta fs will to the boat. I have Meows to Mate that degtte the inatuiveguenee I was put Ila m7 �rlaess� the repeat is my pranks" that I�wlnil tun oda l �� b give We STOVES, TINWARE, LAMP GOODS,u and every other line in the business, I would also resent sl thanks to the /Ire Brigade and mole of oodertoh tar the see- oas.tol efforts to marine my property 1a my absence from home, at the late fire. John Story. PRINTS •r COLBORNE BROTHERS rood 5 CENTS A YARD UP. THE BEST VALUE IN TOWN. SilNflERS' V9flIETY STOKE. NEW GOODS. 5,000 ROLLS WALL PAPER AFRESH STOCK.'sa 3s -NEW STYLES. -0A. WiNDOW SHADES, TRAVELLING BAGS, BASKETS, BABY CARRIAGES. A FINE STOCK, STYLISH AND CHEAP Note the Stand. "The Cheapest House Under the Sun." W ert door to the Post Ounce. If You Want Good GROGER IES, PROVISIONS, CROCKERY, or GLASSWARE, —00 TO= D. FERGUS Hamilton Street, Opposite Bailey's Hovel. In addition to the ordinary Ilea of the Oromr7 and Crockery 'rade, i owrr7 $ fa meek et •: Floor, Ies, Pork and Belier3l Prolnisiolls MY Morro IS. "Fair Dealing and Moderate Prices." CoaglOil al.eleold. See my Stock and get my prices. f r1Goods delivered to any part of the D. Ferguson. Daniel Gordon, Cibl-Maer and hinter. Oldest House in the untidy, and Lgrgest Stock this ride of London! Pssiof SuIma, Ben -Room firms, Stas -BOARDS, - EAST Ca anis, Lot-xoss,PITc., Bre. 11 to taetr advantage to sow my stock if they need s gcod:arttelkia D. GORDON, West Street, near Post Office, Goderidl. c lose men will fad 3K2NTg22J Carriage Works! POINT=R having lewd the shop of Mr. P. Bayne,r a now engaged in then ef+. tows o CARRIAGES, BUGGIES, WAGGONS etc. Give me a call, and I will give you prices that menet be osat•n h th county. ILIE PAIRING s JOBBING DO1 TIES KINTAIL CARRIAGE WORKS, B. POINTER :GET. YOUR BVCTION SALE SILLS PRINTED at the ogee of THS HURON SIGNAL, North IP- et, Cod.,-ieh.