The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-10

one hand. and the line with the other"
The fellow took firm grip of rny
monkey jacket, and made for the
door, The water washed up to my
knees. but l soon inserted my fingers
in the creviee of the door. and thrust
it open.
The house was q single compart-
ment. though had expected to hnc ~
divided into two. In the center was 4
table that travelled on stanchions from
the roof to the deck. On either side
were couple of hunks. The girl stood
near the door. In bunk to the left
of the door lay an old man with white
hair. Rostrate on his back. on the
deck, with his arms stretched against
his ears, was the corpse of man, well
dressed; and in bunk on the right
sat q sailor, who, when he saw ME,
yelled out and snapped his fingers,
making horrible grimaces.
Such, in brief. the coup d'ril of that
weird interior as it met my eyes!
seized the girl by the arm.
"You first" said l. Come. there is
no time to be lost"
But she shrunk back, pressing
vent me from pulling her, crying in a
husky voice. and looking at the old
man with the white hair: MY father
first. my father first
You shall all be saved. but You
must obey me. Quickly. now." l eN-
claimed. passionateIy, for 4 heavy sea
1T that moment flooded the ship. and
rush of water swamped the house
through the open door, and washed
the corpse on the deck up into cor
ner.
Grasping her firmly carried her to
>,,e side of the wreck and with much
difficulty succeed in placing her in the
boat then retErned and taking the
old man also got him into the boat
where he was received with a hearty
embrace by his almost distracted
daughter. The lunatic sailor made us
great deal of trouble. When the
men went to secure him he fought
desperately and bit one of them
through the hand. Then he jumped
over board and was swimming briskly
away. The Grosvenor stood steady al
this time about 4 mile off and now her
ensign was run up on board and
dipped three times Fortunately the
sailors Just 1T this moment came up
with the lunatic and dragged him out
Of the water like drowned rat.
| had now leisure to examine the
persons whom We have saved.
Thev-father and daughter. as I
Judged them by the girls exclamation
on the wreck-sat in the stern-sheets,
their hands locked. The old man
seemed nearly insensiblc. leaning
backward with his chin on his breast
and his eyes partially closed. | feared
he was dying. but could do no good
until we reached the Gros"enor, is we
had no spirits in the boat.
The girl appeared to be about twenty
years of age. very fair. her hair OF 4
golden straw color. which hung wet
and streaky down her back and over
her shoulders, though portion OF it
was held by comb. She was deadly
pale and her lips blue, and in her fine
ewes was such Il look OF mingled hOr-
ror and rapture rs she cast them around
her, first CHANGING ut me. then 1T the
wreck. then at the Grosvenor. that the
memory of it will last me to my death.
Her dress. OF some darS material, was
soaked with salt water up to i:e- hips,
and she shiverc,; snt. lroar@a inces-
sanity. though the sun beat 50 warmly
upon us that the thwarts were hot TO
the hand.
said to the girl: How long have
you been in this dreadful position"
Since yesterday morning she an
swered. in choking voice, painful to
hear, and gulping after each word.
I'VE have not had drcp of water TO
drink since the night befose last"
do YOU hear that. men," | cried.
They have not drunk water for two
days. For the love of Heaven. give
way,"
They bent their backs to nc cars.
and the boat loaned oTer the long
swell. The wind was aStera ard helped
us. did not speak again 10 the pooI
girl. for it was cruel to make her talk
when the WORDS !acerated her throat as
though they nere pieces OF burning
iron.
After twenty minutes. which seemed
Is many hours. we reached the vessel
The crew pressing round the gangway
cheered when they saw we had brought
people from the wreck. Duckling and
| the skipper watched Us grimiy from
| the poop.
Now. then. my lads" cried, .'up
with this lady first. Some of you on
deck get water ready, as these people
are dying of thirst.
In few minutes both the girl and
the old man were handed over tho
ganeway. l cut the boats painter
adrift from the ring-boit so that VIC
could ship the mailman without loosen
| inc his bonds. and he was hoisted up
like bale of goods. Then four of us
| cot ont of the boat, leaving one to
| drop her under the davitS and hook on
| the falls.
At this moment horrible scene TOOK
place.
The old man, tottering on the arms
of two seamen. was being led into the
cuddv. followed by the girl, who
| walked unaided. The mailman. in the
grasp of the big sailor named johnson.
stood near the gangway. and as !
scrambled on deck one OF the men was
holding pannikin full of water to his
| face. The poor wretch was shrinking
away from it. with his eyes half out OF
their sockets: but suddenly tearing his
arm with violent effort from the rope
that bound him, he seized the panni.
kin and bit clean through the tin: after
which, throwing back his head. he
swallowed the whole draught, dashed
the pannikin down, his face turned
black and he fell dead on the deck
The big sailor sprung aside with m
oath. forced from him by his terror,
| and from every looker-on there broke
4 groan. They al shrunk away and
| stood staring with blanched faces.
| Such 4 piteous sight as it was. living