The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-03-08

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observant of the lights on the well
known shore that I had left so ma
ny months before with but fsin
hopes of ever seeing it again. AS
thus gazed landward q bright CLEAN
as of crimson moonlight, shO
across the dark sea, and turning
quickly round / saw that it wa
caused by q tall jet of fame shoot
ing up from the main hatchWay
which two seamen, for some pur
pose or other, had at the momen
partially opened. In my still veal
state the terror of the sight-fo
the recollection of the barrels o
powder on board flashed iHstaDtl,
across my mind-for several mo
ments completely stunned me, ant
but that caught instinctively at tn
ratlins 1 should have fallen pros
trate on the deck. A wild outcry
of 'Firel Fire l-the most fearfp
cry that can be heard at scanning
led with and height tened the dizzy
ringing in my brain, and Wai
barely sufficiently conscious to dis
Germ, amid the runnig to and fire.
and the incoherent ordinations Of
the crew, the sinewy, athletic figure
of the captain leap up as it were
from the companion ladder to the
deck, and with his trumpet voice
command immediate silence, in
stantly followed by the order again
to batten down the blazing hatch
way. This, with his own assistance,
was promptly effected, and then he
disappeared down the forecastle.
The Two or three minutes he was
gOne-it could scarcely have been
more than that-seemed intermina-
BILE, aud 90 completely did II appear
10 be recognized that our fate must
depend on his Judgment and vigor
that not q word was spoken nor a
finger, 1 think, moved till he reap
peared, already scorched and black
ned with the fire, and dragging up
what seemed q dead body in hi
arms. He threw his burden on the
decK, and passing swiftly to where
Hawkins stood, said in low hnr-
ried whisper, but audible to me
run down and rouse the passen
gers, and bring nv pistols from the
cabin locker. Quick! Eternity
hangs on the loss of a moment"
Then turning to the attentive bu'
startled seomeD, he said in a rapid
but firm voice: "You well, know,
men, that l would not on any occa-
sion, or for any motive deceive you.
Listen, then, attentively. Yon
drunken brute-he is Lieutenant
Arguella's serVant-has fired with
his candle the spirits he was steal
ing, and the whole is q mass of fire
which it is useless to waste one
precious moment in attempting to
extinguish."
A cry of rage and terror burst
from the crew, and they sprang i'm
pulsively towards boats, but the
Captains authoritative voice at
once arrested their steps. "Hesr
me out, will you? Hurry and con-
fusion will destroy US ali, but with
courage and steadiDess every soul
on board may be saved before the
flames can reach the powder. And
remember" he added, as he took
his pistols from Hawkins and cock
ed one of them, "that l will send a
bullet after any man who disobeys
me, and I seldom miss my aim.
Now, then, to your work-steadily
aud with a will"
1t was marvellous to observe the
influence his bold, confident and
commanding bearing and words had
upon the men. The panic terror
that had seized them gave place to
energetic resolution, and in All in
credibly short space of time the
boats wer3 in the water. "WelI
done, my fine fellowsl There is
plenty of time, again repeat. Four
of you"-and he named them-"re-
main with me; three others Jump
into each of the large boats, two in
the small one and bring them round
to the landward side of the ship
A rush would swamp the boats, and
we shall only be able to keep the
gaDgway clear"
The passengers were by this time
rushing upon deck half clad, and in
a state of the widest terror, for
they all knew there was a large
quantity of powder on board. The
instant the boats touched the star
board side of the bark, the men,
white as well as colored, forced
their way with frepzied eagerness
before the women and children
careless, apparently, whom they
sacrificed SO that they might them
selves leap to the shelter of the
boats from the frey volcano raging
beneath their feet. Captain Star
key, aided by the four athletic sea
men he had selected for the duty,
hurled them hercely back. "Back,
back !" be shouted; "we must have
funeral order here-first the women
and children, next the old men
Hand Sonora Arguellas along mex
he young lady, her daughter.
Quick !"
As Donna Antonio, more dead
than alive, was about to be lifted
iato the boat, a gush of flame burst
up through the main hstchway With
the roar of an explosion a tumuIt-
uous cry burst from the frenzied
passengers, and they jostled each
other with frightful violence in
their efforts to reach the gangway.
Dupont forced his way through the
line of seamen with the energy OF
q mailman, and pressed so suddenly
upon Antonio that, but for the ut
most exertlon of the captains her
culean strength, she must have been
precipitated into the water.
"Back, unmanly bastard back.
dog !" roared Captain Starkey, ter
ribly excited by the lady's danger:
and q moment after, Selling Dupont
fiercely by the collar, he added, "Or
If you will, look there but for q mo.
ment," and he pointed with his pis-
toll hand to the fms of several
sharks visible in the glaring light
at but few yards distant from The
ship. "Men," he added, '1et who
ever presses forward out of his
turn, fail into the water"
'Ah, ayr was the prompt, mechani-
cal response.
This terrible menace Instantly re-
stored order. The colored woman and
children were next embarked, and the
boat appeared full.
'Pull on was the order; 'yoa are
deep enough for safety
A cry, faint as the wall of a child,
arose In boat. IL was heard and un-
derstood.
Stay one moment; pass along, Senior
Arguelles. Now, then, of with you,
and be smartp
The next boat was quickly loaded ;:
the colored lads and men, ali but one.
and the three Americans went ia her.
You sre 3 noble fellow said Mr..
Desmond, pausing an instant and
catching the captains hand; 'and 1
was q fool to-
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