The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-08
Printed bv Spec:ai Arrangement scsth the Author.
THU SHIPS SURGEONS STORY.
BY JULIAN MAGNUS
copyrighted 1ss5-An Rights Reserved
A s It O r Y.

YORK, on Ooard sne steamer WdiIacnla, OF IHe
International Line, that l assembled to the deck
at very carly hour l was surprised to see
group of officers and seamen. standing little
forward of amdships, and all bareheaded. For
q moment the significance of this did not occur
to me, and as / strolled forward it was some
thing of shock to find that in the center of the
group was d body sewn up in canvas and just
about to be committed to the waves [ had new
er before seen funeral at sea, and though as
rule shrink from the presence of death IN any
form, l fingered to the end. fascinated by the
novelty of the surroundings. When the last
words had been uttered. and the water had
closed over the form whose outlines made them
selves so painfully prominent through the cover
Ing. I turned and walked towards the quarter
deck had only taken a few steps when DR..
Shaw overlook me. You up unusually
early" he said.
yes" answered, 81 have not yet got accus-
toned to the hoiystoning Of the decks over my
head. Who has died?"
''One of the steerage passengers He had
some kind of fever, and died last night. l
don't think it was contagious, but it was best to
get the funeral over as soon as possible. BY the
way. Captain Watson sends his compliments,
and requests you will not say anything about
the death to any of the saloon passengers"
Certainly not. Do you generally bury people
80 quickly at sea3'
Usually. OF course if the passenger is
wealthy, and has friends on board, and if we are
within short distance of port, we can arrange to
preserve the body"
And I suppose you never have inquests on
board shipl"
mo"
What a splendid place it would be then for
poisoner to operate in"
was utterly unprepared for the effect which
my chance remark made upon the Doctor. His
face suddenly turned blush white, and he
staggered back against the bulwark.
Whats the matter?" 1 cried You are i'll.
What shall get you"
Nothing he replied, with an evident effort
to overcome his agitation. Then, after mo-
ments pause, he asked almost fercely: did
you know any one on board before you en-
barked?'
"Ony you, and we have met only two or three
times"
well, | don't suppose you wart to make
away with me" he said, with an ineffective at
tempt at a laugh.
What on earth do you mean?"
Come down with me to my room. I must
take something to tone up after this shock, and
owe you an explanation"
The toning up process was duplicated, and
then yielding to my urgent request, DIR Shaw
told his story.
What am going to tell you happened nearly
kvua p+,yE 1,a md +bo
are still alive, won't give real names At that
time ocean passages averaged at least two
three days longer than they do now. was but
o youngster just out of college and hospital,
and appointed to my first ship. One voyage
from Liverpool to New York and back was made
without any stirring incident, but the next
return voyage from New York was destined to
leave an impression upon me, the effects of
which shall never forget. You saw just now
how your chance words agitated me- Well if
my nerves are so affected after the events are
twenty-five years old, you may judge the state
] was in at the time l am going to tell you
about
ut was in the smonth Of December that we
were preparing to leave port, and the passenger
list was very light / was congratulating myself
that-I should have very few to look after, for l
had not then got my own sea-legs any too firmly
But within very few minutes of sailing
time a lady, who was evidently very weak and
delicate was half led, half carried, up the gang
plank. A dark, handsome man, who had the
appearance of a Frenchman or Creole, was very
attentive to her, and l at once set him down as
her husband-a conclusion in which was not
mistaken The lady taken down to her state
room, and few moments after we were out
IN the river. The wind was light and favorable
and there was no motion sufficient to annoy the
passengers, even when we were well out of the
Hook and had dropped pilot The captain
had left the bridge and gone into his chart ROOM
and l was just about to 60 down and brush up
for dinner when he came along the deck. accom-
panied by the husband of the lady had so care
fully noticed
E" DR.. Shaw said Captain Carew, want to
introduce to you my friend, Mr.. Valcour His
wife is something of an invalid, and anything
you can do to aid her will be appreciated by US
both
Il bowed to Mr.. Valcour, and the Captain
passed on to the wheel house, leaving us to-
gether Yes, my dear Doctor, my wife is very
delicate She is a martyr to some inward com
plant which the best physicians seem unable
correctly 10 diagnose 1 am taking her to the
Riviera on the advice of DR.. - And he
mentioned the name of one of New York's most
eminent specialists.
DR. IS opinion should be of the highest
authority observed, but it seems to me to be
a very dangerous experiment to expose lady
who is so weak to the weather we are likely to
have at this time of year.
My dear doctor, | quite understand your
feeling. 1t is desperate chance, but was as
sured it was the only one aud l would do any
thing to save my poor wife. She will naturally
require good deal of your attention; far more
am aware, than can expect in the ordinary