New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-17

i
The giant steamship lay rolling lastly on
the huge waves that marched in from tbs
Atlantic. Every available spot on deck was
/ occupied BY an eager multitude, gazing
down on the towboat that with bursting
safety valves struggled, up Ialopgsias.
/ A red faced officer stood on tho BRIDE,
angry and inpatient. e.s - sa
"Whst in -'s the uAtter!" Il, .
Tho captain of the Jane touched his hat
respectfully and shout Ted back his reply
| Passenger left, sir"
"Ssnd him aboard, quick, now"
"Aye, aye. sir" -.r.5
The wheel.hoIse door opened and the
wife stepped out with the baby wrapped in
. shawl in her, arms.
''Give her ladder there"
There was . murmsr of excitement on
the steameE. Why did this woman dets in
the sbips Why was abe % stupid - to be
leftS The tow boat man was fool 20 stop
the steamer for one passenger. Let the
Tho woman held out the child n II aha
Wished to put it on board. The officer SHOOK
his head. ID - ssTA
"Coms aboard with it,"
IheJane rosa On the crest Of .,a
for . moment the ftail b.j~ = xsvG, ana
Tho wife dartea across, = iEe We level:
the ladder broke end mt at that instant
xsro the of ' the ~ stes s sen a
w. II ,our childr'
~ sir; but it vas somebody's child"
40 looked about the bare cabin, and OK.
mined the hard wooden birth. o. which
she Lay, In kind Of dased surprise. Tuere
were two mon, officers of the sseamk;p.
one . young man, who seemed - Dethe
ships surgeon, and the steerage steward.
know that it must b moving She must
n ret up and return to her hosband.
=" Yeu had better lie down ODD keen
Qniet," sid tho little doctor. sgs = :
She looked ct the boy Of . fellow in .
kind of amused surprise.
Il ~ must 70 back to the boat"
"Go back to the boat" said tho officer,
aNos. v Air. :'' PA''e"k'f
They seemed greatly surprised and held
. whispered O. nsultstion together. Thus
left to herself, she sat up, and brushing
back her disordered hair, stood upon the
aoor and stesdied herself by the wall.
II must 60 on deck. There seems to be
some dreadful mistake. Il must see the
captain"
The little doctor objected and said that
it was vet and cold on deck She paid no
heed to him, and taking the arm of the
elder of the two men, she said, with deci-
sion:
''Tske me to the captain; I must see
him." "HF
The deck was quite clear. The paasen-
gers we're all driven below: and none but
the ships people were stirring. She drew
her crumpled hat over her eyes and gaxed
all around the sea-
1--WE have shut down the land"
eyes; two hours ago; it's past five O'clock
now"
The ship was Keeling and plunging
through the storm, with the wind and sea
dead ahead The wsveA broke in torrents
of water over her bows, and the deck was
slippery with the sheets Of water that swept
overit. They led her to the chart room,
just behind the wheelhouse ON the hurricane
dsch. IT.. - -.--' y
"Oh, captain! you are taking me to
o'Yss. ny good woman. IL a.ytbing the
matter with your quarters. or tho foods''
No, sir: am nos passenger. must
with the child, and was 70 return 1t
once. was thrown down Whea the ladder
"And that accounts for the sctions of
that tow-bost. We thought tho captain had
Lost bis senses. He followed No fes more
than mile, and then he fell astern. Suspect
the sea was too much tor him."
ut was my husband, sir"
Tho burly captain grew red in the face
"Hang ii, marm,' it was all mistake. II
can't be helped now. Well take you over
and bring you back, that's oil We can do
about it. It's very unfortunate and all
that, but you see the ship was not clear of
Sandy Hoo, and didn't dare to stop to
see what your husband wanted"
why didn't you put me ashore with the
THE pilot Oh!-yes-well-"
"She was in dead faint in the women's
cabin, sir, "said the officer. "Tho third Of
fcer said she was sick steerage He must
have thought her passenger"
You must think my husband . great |
70, !" said the wife, with some asperity.
'Why should We stop for one steerage pas /
senger left bshiHdW
at seems you did, ".retorted the captain.
eyes, Fir; but it was ckild at the breast
In the confusion of the landing the babe |
was left in our stateroom."
You are the captains wife3''
Eyes, sir. My name Ia Mrs. John Thomp-
BON. and l live with my husband on"
Before she could finish her sentence, they |
heArd the engine race and stop, and q
strange and dreadful hush fell on the ship.
The captain sprung to the door, and, tear
ing it open, rushed out on the deck. The
wind had flung the door back with clam,
md the wife and second officer were alone.
IL am truly sorry, madam, that this has
happened. There is nothing to be done
lone but accept the situation. We will
make You as comfortable - peesible, and
u Queenstown You shall be transferred and
e,urn to New York" 'l''-
She did not seem to heed him, and going
o the door she looked out and said:
Il wonder Why the engine stopped. 1t
onnded like broken shaft"
:, The deck, moment before deserted by
NJ save few men in yellow oiI-cloth, now
warmed with men, women and Children.
~ more or less excited and frightened. The
nicer pushed past her, and she stepped |
ut on the deck, closed the door, and went
Onward to the hurricane deck, Just under
he bridge, and looked up at the four posts
M over the main deck below. Everything
eemed t. be safe alOft, and she heard. the I
oisy rattle of steam winch forward :nd
'ticed black iib climbing up the forward
'gslIg. The steam was blowing of with = | I
o .rse rotr, and there seemed to be Q good ! j
al OF confusion among the struggling +
r"wd OF steorago passengers below. The, d
81 class people were more quiet. though t
ute ~ much alarmed. A young womsa t
rslde her leaned on her husbands arm, Fl
II to shut out the scene, and the rain e
mingled with the tears that we're
eeping from beneath her eyelsshes. She v
u comfort the poor child: 90 n
, There IL no danger, marin. The ship ia d
right. It's only the engine"-
send these people below" cried the
ugh voice OF the captain from the bridge &c
81 over her mead. -. n,
. q 'ntlemen, take yonr ladies below. a
IRE Il no danger. We shall proceed E
~, so