New-York tribune., 1884-02-17

yiponQ tone, though some still stuck TO the boats
covering down in them E as thhey TIwIng ., u.s ns
caught the gimmer of his outline in the haze OF tho
binnaole lamp; and well recall slrickng TO those
dastards to look Mt him did they think if tho ship
was sinking that sailor there would be cooly steer.
| ing her and this simple thing they seemed to find
more rosssuring than any OF my other outcres put
By this time / might tell that the Others on tho
main-deck being pacified or persuaded into
sOmo approach to orderiness, though again and
again womans scream would 90 shrill up into tho
blackness whore there seemed To bc a Storm with
the slatterng Of canvas and the whipping ol mutt
lated gear. There was the shining OF lanterns on
the main-deck. and spTang OF the poop, hndng
right under the break of it an under-steward hold
ing n lamp there. collare,l hun and ran hln up
tho ladder bawllng, Bring that light aft There's
gang OF towards there ready to get the boats over
The lghtl give them heart" aud buried him to
the after skylight. "Thcrc.' ! cried, stand yon
here with that light. Here, my Lads shouted.
addressing the swarm that lowered near the boats.
" come and assemble round this light. l tell you
the ships tght-tight rs ever sho was! ana
number Of them came at and grouped them
sell cs about the lantern. taken by the light, as the
human eye a ways III in darkness and in moment
of terror, and perhaps finding trifle of courage
now that the shrlcking and yelling had subsidized
and the ship went on living.
went away again to the fore-cnd Of the poop.
and found man at the head of the poop ladder.
pceered close and said " Is that you, Daniel :"
Yes" he answered.
"What report for the cowards aftf / can help
yOu by keeping them in check"
"Wc have been run into by big steamer" ho
replied. talking herc,ly, like man in fever:
She has LOled us under the starbOard bow and tho
fore compartment is full of water. If the bulkhcad
gives Wa shall 90 down like Il stone Mr. Thorn
ton " ho roared and ran to where had left my
love to tell her what had heard.
Talk of Nightmares, queer sights, / admit, ara
bchcld in ugly dreams. but should like to know
what widest fantasy of slumher ever came up 10
the vision of the crowd of men lowering around the
lantern Oh the skylIght one brandlslng has arms
in the insanity that had come 10 hlin with his Iear
and raving dismal trash about his being one of tho
elect of God. and the only man in that ship sure OF
going to heaven; three or four al them on their
Knees praying; two-brOthers, maybe-lockcd in an
embrace; while from time to time another
would start and run Tor the maln-lcck, perhaps 10
find the women OF his famlly-fOr these fellows had
Forgotten tlem. you'd notice; they were all men
who had rushed to those boats; while Others stood
with their arms folded. like persons who rechOned
their tmc had come and were gong TO their death
lost i'll thought. We'll! an actor IN such scene a1
this not fit person To paint it-he'll see but
little; the impression is q mixture of wild horror
aud hdcOus clamor, the rushing of the wind through
the rigging the uneartly sObDlng aud washing OF
water, the deep gloom that puts the ship out OF
sight past the manast, AMI the brcathesS thrill-
ing, maddenIng expectation OF the next moment
finding him with the salt water burning In, threat.
and the swoon of drowning cold in his brains.
"What is our situation p cried Aunt Damaris;
"nre We sinking Mr.. EScrton
No" answered. Clasping Florence to me- a
steamer has struck us made hole IN the bow, and
filled the fore compartment with water But tho
buikhcad that prevents the water flowing into the
after portions Of the ship Is bound to be substantial
aud you may he sure turrc Is no Immediate danger.
Thompson and hls officers. know by the orders
have caught what they are doing lOu may trust
the captain; II he believed the danger immediate,
he'd give orders for the boats to be cleared and
broke OIL feeling Florence shi, erng. to cry But
you are both without covering Tor your headSt
PRAY be adyised-gO To your cabin aud warmly
clnthe yuursel,es-i will accompany yOuw
But Aunt DamarlS cred that she would not leave
the deck-lf she was to be drowned 1t would bc IN
the open air not in her cabin and seeing Florence
move rs il she meant To 50 below with me- she
seized hold Of horand shreed to her not 10 leave her
alone. Seeing this ran to the companion and entered
their cabin. where, fortunately, bracket lamp was
burning. | OyeUhaulcd the wearing apparel found
about the place and picked out Aunt Dalnariss
bonnet and FlOrence's hat. along with cloak
shawl and some wraps aud with tins armiul re-
turned or deck. noticing aS passed through lho
cuddy that it was deserted and most OF the cabin
doors Idle open. atiTcd t lic ladies IA the things
had brought with me- aud Willie was thus oC-
cupcd, endcayOrMg to encourage them 10y such
plain practical talk sailor will know how to aso
at time like this, the second mate, followed ~
eight or ten scamcn, came along the poop, and
ordered tho tween-deck passengers on 10 the lnan"
deck. They hung i'll the wind, but the second mate
was blunt-spOken, slnewy iellOw, ana Ie had re-
Away with yew he cried. catching MP the lantern
| and swinging IT around him; "yon'll be no safer
| here than there, so OF yo 20. WY you ours /:
whore are the women, that you're all here about he
boats without 'cm. of with you now, for you're in
the road here" and he and the sailors beginning 10
shove and push and show themselves ia earnest. tho
fellows went away toward the main-deck, sulloniy
and reluctantly enough, as though they supposed
the creature who had gone mad, rs took IT, spring
ing and dancing as he went, snapplng ms myers
ana hourishng his arms, and hoaTsrly bawling that
he was one of the elect. and that there WAS nobody
to be saved IN that ship but himself. When tho
ponp was cleared the second mate ana the Others OF
the crew immediately applied themselves TO seeing
the boats ready for lowering. There were some
'twcen-dcck passengers still shulhlng III those
boats but far rs | could make out III the dark
ness they very roughly and unceremonously
hauled ont and trOtted forward by the seamen, VINO
were then posted in couples at the four quarter,
boats and gig to guard them Mean" nue. might
! Judge by the gruntlng and screaming OF pIgs Tor
waiti that they clearing the lOng,boat ready
for hosting her over the side. Pray God, thought
to myself that the ship lives till daylight ut least
but this making ready with the boats was terri
hly omnous sign, and for the life of me could not
t0rbcar Il shuddcr of despair sweeping through me
~ | reflected on the long hours OF darkness when
lay before Us. and on the consequences OF the is
which would take place II the buikhead that STOOD
bet"ixt us and eternity Yielded 10 tho pressure OK
the water that filled the fore compartment Agaln
and again prUhed the deep darkness upon the sea;
in the hope of discovering some Sign oil the Vessei
that had run into us. If she were aitoat she coud
| not be far off, little more than ten minutes had
! PASSED since tho blow of her stem had hove tho
Strathmore on her beam-ends, during which ltme
| we would have put but short distance between
her and us. had she chosen to remain on tle spo,
but nothing to he seen of her, 80 that unless sho
had herself foundered, then most aySuredly had sh9
left us to our late. When tho poop had been cleared
| of the 'tween-declS people. | caught sight oi tho
| cuddy passengers congregated around the compar-
| ion; it was too dark 10 see more than tho blotch
| tLey made upon the shadow, hut knew who those
peopo would be. | proposed that We should JON
| them, and Aunt Damarls consentmg, took FLOR
| rnce by the hand while the old lady clung 10 my
| left arm and walked over to the companion. -Four.
| teen of the passengers were assembled mere, ana
| though one Heard lao strong demonstrations Of
terror or grief sObs and sghs broke pcntiiuy from
| the women and one of the .Ioyces' little children
| cried continuously.
ia that YOU, Mr. EgertOn." called out Captain
Jackson from The thick OF the group.
YES" answered.
Do YOU know cried he hOarscly, "it the cap
rain or any of his mate. mean 70 tell us what hap
nen ed and what are to expect h0fs Er duty:
They're full of business" l answered. Can't
va, hear them shouting There's been disorder IA
bad as n mutlny among the twccn-deck people, and
the get ing them quiet. and asceranng the nature
of tho injury, aud providing for the safety ot tho
shn il as much as have a right 10 expect Of cap
tain aud officers at such moment as his