Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-04-04


describe the engine-room to you. 1t was very
much like this one; the engines were slide-leVers
like these and the stoke-hole, with its fire-doors
was adjoining the engine-room, without any sepa'
ration between. The cylinders were forward, q.
bout four feet from the bulkhead, and the boilers
and stoke-hole were aft There was platform
lust like this at the level of the tops of the cyn
ders, on each side of the engine-room, and'across
the forward part of it, close to the bulkhead with
ladders at the latter ends Of the two sideplatfoms
leading down to the stoke hole, and another at the
middle of the part that went across, by which you
descended to narrow passage between the engines
the same part of the platform was the ladder which
communicated with the deck. ,
"You will see from this that there was at the
forward end of the engine-room, having the cylln-
ders and ends of the engines on one side Of it, the
bulkhead on the other, and the cross platform tol
roof, space about four feet wide and in length
the whole width of the ship. The portside Of this
space was filled with taowcasks oicans, etc., fol
which there was not room in the stOre-coset; but
on the starboard-side there was NICE snug little
spot, kept toleraby cool, though so near the cyn:
ders, by the draught of air from the deck, and
through some holes in the bulkhead, from the fore
hold This snuggery was approached by narrow
passage on the starboard side of the ship-for the
ting in from between the engines, and the donkey
engine was in the way on the port side and you
had to make rush to get in, where you did, with
out ducking from the starboard waste-water pipe
through the ships side, which was very leaky, SO
that there was generally torrent of water falling
down from it. But once in, with bag Of cotton
wipings for bed, and my jacket rolled up for O
pillow, could generally calculate on comfortable
snooze, without disturbance from the wheels or any
thing else. am obliged to be so particular in my
description, or you would never understand what
have to relate In this fayonte spot ofmine, then,
you will understand that lay down, and in very
few minutes was fast asleep.
81 had not slept very long, when l awoke with
start, and with an uneasy consciousness that
there was something unusual in the working of the
engines. leant on my elbow and listened. They
were going much more slow than usual and there
was peculiar jerking style about their motion
which seemed as if they were working expansive
| ly with high steam !; and the well-known rushing
sound in the steam pipes, like the wind in door
way. when the door is ajar, showed me in mo-
ment that they were closely 'throttled'-that is,
that the valves in the pipes leading to the cylinders
were partially closed, so as to check the flow OF
steam from the boilers to the engines: Isaw, too,
that there was very bright glow from the fur
naces, and that the fires were more than usually
intense. I fancied, also, from the absence Of the
usual currents of air. except through the windsail,
and from the forehold and the appearance of the
lights and shadows that the hatches over the crank
gratings, and the companion leading to the deck,
were closed-a thing that was very unusual except
in bad weather.
IT was about to creep out of my lair to see what
was the meaning of all this, when / heard persons
in conversation in the passage between the engines
and almost close to where Twas. BY a slight move
ment was able also to see them. One was our
chief engineer, who had never before been known
in the engine-room at this hour Of the night; he
had his hands on the injection handles, and was
regulating the supply Of water to the diminished
quantity of steam passing through the engines
person whom did not know at ALL He appeared
a slight, gracefully formed young man, of middle
height, dressed in sailors clothes of fine texture,
and with the voice of youth rather than of man.
[ should have gone out at once to see what was
doing, but the first words distinguished arrested
my attention in moment. twas the youth who
said
"How long before we shall leave the ship?'
''Not long now, }" replied the chief, but we have
nothing more to do except to start when it is time
care you sure the third engineer is all right2'
eyes He sleeps in one of the warehouses, and
I have turned the key upon him. Dick is at the
wheel; the rest of the watch on deck, and these
smutty fellows are disposed Of They have lower
ed the boat all safe, and all is ready for start
''Then, why not 60 nowf'
"No, we might still be discovered in time tc
spoil all Let us wait till the last moment, and We
shall be sure that we have got rid Of the inferna
ship and all that could ever give us trouble. But
by hell, he said, with glance toward the gauges
there isn't much time to spare, either. The
steam mounts quicker than thought; it is at twen
ty-fve already and the water is all out of the
gauges. Just step on deck, and tell Dick we shal
Be off at once"
The youth turned and assembled quickly to The
deck and the chief went to the stokehole, opened
the furnace door, looked at the fires, and threw il
some coal and tallow.
l should make bad hand at describing my feel
ings, and all that sort of thing; but think you
may imagine that the unaccountable appearance o.
stranger in the ship-the intelligence that the
watch, both on deck and in the engine-room, were
disposed of-the knowledge that the steam was al
twenty-five pounds to the inch our usual working
pressure being fifteen, and rapidly rising, with the
safety-vaves, of course, fastened down or very
heavily loaded-the engines throttled Of half then
steam, the feed in the boilers very low, and the
furnaces fed with oil and tallow, it was altogether
enough to make one feel queer The boilers were
new and strong but, for that very reason, wher
they did give way the destruction would be great
er and l expected soon terrific explosion, which
might probably send the ship to the bottom. ]
understood at once-indeed, there was no room fol
doubt after what had seen and heard--that the
williams had by some means got hold of the gold
on board that they had either drugged or over.
powered the watch, and that it was their intention
to blow up the ship, and escape in the confusion
or to get away little beforehand and trust to.the
explosion, which must inevitably follow, to remove
all proof of their crime and all dread Of capture.
saw what it was; but confess to you, sir, at the
risk of being thought coward that stood at trst
unable to think or act to any useful purpose Had
I been prompt and decided, now was my time tc
have acted while the stranger was on deck but
own that stood rooted to the spot, with shaky
knees with quivering lips, and with the cold clam
my perspiration standing on my forehead have
often been in peril, but 1 never felt so unnamed
before or since, as did then and verify believe
that, had [ been left alone, should have allowed
the ship, and gold, and my own life and the lives
of all on board to take their chance, rather than
venture out to face these desperadoes
"But had not the choice. The chief, after
looking at the fire and examining the guages cross
ed the stoke-hole to the other passage undenthe
starboard platform, with the view of probably get
ting at some of the grease and talow that was
slowed away close by where had made my couch.
saw that must be discovered; but with the
prospect of struggle with one man sngly,. my
courage revived, my limbs became steady, and the
d-feeling left my heart. He groped his way
slowly up the passage, and then made the rush
which I have described as necessary to avoid the
water from the waste-pipe This rush brought
hin, oloco m mn hnforo hn stonned and We stood