The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-28

III SuOTt llIne the news OF JnS pro
posed race spread through Tomsburs
and in less than half an hours time men
women and children were cOngregate,
upon the shore, ali taking a lively inter
est in the preparations being made there
The sun was just going down benin.
a dark mass of clouds when Jay m.
Sim, accompanied by their sisters, cam.
down to the landing, where their Ie
spective friends had hoisted sail on the
two boats and made everything READ.
for a start.
The young men made haSty survey.
TO see that their crafts were in SIM
shape, and having satisfied themseive>
that everything had been properly al
tended 10 grasped the tillers, gave tie
signal TO cast of am darted away from
the shore ike birds on snowy wings
amid lusty cheers from those left De
hind.
The sky looked rent and threatening
There was distant thunder and frequent
flashes Of lightning. Dark, towering
masses of clouds rose slowly upon al
sides Of the horizon. The wind was due
east, blowing a stiff breeze. The two
boats were close hauled on the wind.
barely making their course. The water
was rough and the waves ran pretty
high, casting a drenching spray over
everything as the little crafts were forced
straight through them. The crews Of
the two boats-the girls as well as the
boys-were well protected, however, by
long oilskin coats, reaching down 70
their feet, and Southwestern hats.
For the first ten miles il WAS a pretty
even race. then the wind died out COM
pletely. Night had set in. The thunder
sounded louder and closer, and the light
ming came in binding flashes. The
clouds rolled upward from every side I'M
Ill they met overhead. For a few min
utes the thunder stopped its loud can
nonade and the lightning ceased; the
only sounds that broke the silence being
the dying murfnur of a breaking wave
and the gentle swash of the water
against the sides of the boats.
The darkness was intense; the air was
hot and sitting. Then IN ominous sound
came from a distance sound that the
occupants of the boats had often heard
before-a low murmur at first, !ucreas-
ing gradually In volume, until at last. as
it drew nearer, it sounded like roar of
wrath, mingled with shrill shrieks Of
agony and despair.
Sim and Jay hastily lowered their sails
and furled them snug and fast, and just
as the first chilly breath of the squall
touched their sweat beaded cheeks and
fOreheads they threw the anchors over
board
Then the storm broke loose in all its
fury. The thunder roared more deafen-
ingly, the lightning flashed more blind
ingly than before. The phosphorescent
water cleaned as an ocean of fire dashed
and driven before the gale, The two
frail boats were tossed like corks upon
the angry sea, but their anchors held
them head 10 the wind, while strong,
nervous hands grasped the tillers and
steadied them as they plunged up and
down among the furious waves.
The two boats seemed to be riding the
gale safely until suddenly the Armies
cable snapped. The Annie was to the
windward of the Lily, and when the
cable parted she drifted straight down
upon the latter. They came together
with a fearful crash Then came a
wave higher crested and more furious
than its fellows. It burst upon the
boats while they were Yet side by side,
sweeping their decks from fore TO aft.
at the same time tearing them apart
and carrying one far astern Of the other.
Jay looked around for his sister. At
his feet, in the small cockpit in which he
was sitting. now half filed with water,
he saw a motionless figure, which he
thought TO be hers. He reached down
his hand and dragged her toward him.
\ long and vivid flash lighted up
everything around him, revealing in
stead of the expected face of his sister
that Of Annie Jason.
At that moment a womau's piercing
cry rang out above the voice Of the
storm. Jay heard it and sprang to his
feet.
1T is Lily. and she is downing" he
cried. "Tll cut the cable and drift
down with the wind. l may save her
yet"
He started forward. and Just then the
topping lift broke and the boora came
down with all its weight upon his head.
With a moan upon MS lips he sank down
unconscious
Ii was a week after the night Of the
souau on the bay when jaw Spratt
awoke 10 consciousness again. He was
at his home in Tou-hurZ. Two sweet