Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-10-02
A TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.
The Sad Sequel of Anticipated Joy in a
New Land.

The first gray darts of approaching
dawn shot up in the east and tinted the
murky sky and the throbbing ocean as
tae City of Rome plowed relentlessly d,
her course last Tuesday for this port.
lin the dim morning twilight a tragedy
was being enacted to at least one per-
son on the steamers deck.
Resting on two black stands near the
steamers bulwark lay a sad burden. 1t
was the body of IA passenger laid ont on
a rough board. loaded with lead mt the
heels, and covered with the red flag of
the British nation. -Four blue clad
sailors stood with cap in hand about
the bier whilst n priest recited prayers
for the repose Of the dead mans soul
read by the light of "A lantern held by a
sailor.
Two beautiful women gazcd at the
mournful spectacle. The younger was
in a passion of grief, her bosom heav-
ing with convulsive sobs which the
other strove in vain to soothe.
She was n beautiful girl, winsome
even in her grief. Her black hair hung
in disheveled masses about II flush, well
rounded face, and her large blue eyes
kept turning ~beseechingly toward the
clergyman as she kept exclaiming:
'FHe is not dead! o, tell me he is not
dcad!''
The father had finished his sacred
office. The four strong sailors stopped
and lifted the rude bier to the buiwarks
of the ship, one END OF the plank was
raised high, and the dead mans body
shot overheard, feet foremost, and was
heard TO plunge into the sea.
The poor distracted girl CAV one
gasp and was clasped fainting in the
arms of the other lady.
This lady was Mrs. Frank Leslie and
the girl was q poor Irish immigrant,
left almost alone in the world by the
death of her old uncle.
Several years ago Patrick McNaugher
came TO this country, and 10y frugal liv-
ing and hard work acquired Il little
money. Last summer he was Informed
that his brother Tom had died in Ire
land, leaving M Sol and daughter in
destitute circumstances. Mr.. Nc
Naugher's heart was moved and he
fastened to the other side of the water
20 see his niece and nephew.
John, a sturdy youth, and Rose, a
bright, courageous miss of seventeen,
were the sorrowing orphans who bash
fully greeted their uncle on his arrival.
The old man had no children of his
own and he soon loved both of them
with n tenderness he had never felt
before.
The pretty Rose was o o her uncle's
favorite, but MIR. McNaugher never
tired of telling John of the great sights
be would see in America and of the
high place he would surely win if he
applied himself to work.
In short, the old man lost no time in
starting for the new country, and a
little over n week ago the trio with
trunks and bundles might have been
seen boarding the City of Rome at
Queenstown.
The young people were evidently
much frightened at the danger of the
sea, and their recent bereavement
seemed to prey upon their minds de-
spite the attempts of Mr.. McNaueher
to keep them cheerful. Rose chung to
her uncle as though he were all she had
in the world, as indeed he was, but
John was wont to wander listlessly and
sadly about the vessel. 1t was the
charming sight of the gentle Rose lin
gering lovingly about her aged uncle
that first attracted the attention of the
wealthy and kind-hearted Mrs. Leslie.
When two days out ut sea heavy
winds frightened the immigrant passen-
gers. j. McNaugher was nowhere to
DO seen. He was discovered later
kneeling bareheaded Old the deck, while
the sleet dashed upon him, and pray
ing distrsctedly. When the steward
tried to persuade him to come in he re-
piled that he must no. be interrupted,
90 ihS SputtS-, lH' iNp'' Nt~ angry
with him and had hidden her face.
IL took three strong men to bring
HIM in, when he was SO violent he had
to be placed in the iaiirmary, where he
tore everything to pieces.
There was no dodbt Of his insanity
and the incident made u deep impress
sion on all stoard. As for the old
uncle, he was nearly beside himself and
the shock must have caused his death
as he was found stark and stiff in his
berth next morning, having rupturcd a
blood vessel.
Thus it happened that while her
brother vas raving below and the priest
was chanting a requiem over the body
III her uncle, poor Rose McNaugher
Stood sobbing on the deck in the gray
without a friend in the world. OF all
the hundreds of passengers on the City
of Rome, Mrs. Frank Leslie was the
only n TO rise and comfort the be-
reaycd girl at that ocean burial.
The passengers, stimulated by Mrs.
Leslie, made up apurse for the orphan
maid of $3.50. She, with her brother,
will be kept by tho authorities until the
City of Rome starts again for Europe. |