The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-08
A SAILORS LOVE.
story Of the Burning of the Coco
ship Grey Eagle.
boston Globe.1

the l1uSn OF her youth ana beauty.
In the wheelhouse stood young man,
second mate of the ship, looking at
Mabel Vane. He was young, with
bold, manly face, curling brown hair
and beard and speaking gray eyes-a
man, in grace of person, manly beauty
and pure heart-a man worthy of the
name. He was only a sailor, and had
risen to his presept rank from cabin boy,
but yet he dared to love the daughter Of
the East Indian millionaire, Arthur
Nane.
He loved rand he had no hope-loved
her as we worship star which is far be-
yond our reach. Nothing was further
from his thoughts than to insult her by
telling her that he loved her; but to be
near her, to SIC her often, perhaps to do
some service which would win smile
from her-that was reward enough for
Will Clay.
She never dreamed of his alteration;
and he had heard her say TO her friends
that she like him better than any other
officer ON board the Gray Eagle. She said
it in the careless way of girlhood, and yet
he treasured it in his heart. Standing
there, watching the course Of the ship,
and ready to give n word of warning to
the wheelmln ii it were needed, he never
took his eyes from her long.
Mr.. Clay" said the man at the wheel,
as he gave it half turn and rested there,
"don't you smell smoker
ut comes from the galley"
Perhaps SO, but what are they burn
ing rosin in the galley for?"
"Rosin," cried Will, raising his head
quickly and snuffing the air. He caught
the peculiar smell himself and leaped
down from the wheel house. "Keep
steady" he whispered to the man at the
wheel. "Thcre may be danger, but if
there is, for Gods sake, keep it quiet"
The man nodded quietly and took a
firmer hold on the wheel. VIII Clay
crossed the deck without apparent haste
and -cewith a terrible fear Juggling at
= his heart. He caught sight of the cap
tain coming out Of the gentlemen's cabin
and hurried up to him.
"There is something wrong" he whis-
jpered. Don't you smell burning rosin,
captain
The old sea captain suppressed a cry
of horror. With fifty passengers on
board, in TIE midst Of the Indian ocean,
far from laGl, a fire was one of the most
horrible things which could come upon
ship.
$50 forward and investigate, he said,
in n low tone. "If you find that it is
fire, you will know what to do. How
are the boats."
'All right, sir; you may trust to them"
They had good cause for fear The
entire forehold was filled with rosih,
in boxes and casks, and il fire started
there it might as well be in a nest of
fat pine. Will ran down to the lower
deck, where he was met by crowd Of
excited frcmen and coal passers, who
were rushing madly on deck. Quick as
thought he seized the foremost and
hurled him back
"Get back, you fools!' he cried
"Where are you running tor
''Firer whispered the man, hoarsely.
Fire in the foreholdl'
Suppose there is. Is it your duty to
rush on deck and alarm the passengers,
or get buckets and try to put out the
fire? Back, there, all Of you, for will
brain the mar who dares to finch a
hair now. Stand back, l sayl"
The men cowed before his superior
will and saw that they might yet do
something to save the steamer.
A guard was placed at the hatch, so
that no one could come down, and the
scuttle which led into the forehold was
opened. No sooner was this done than
dense volume of black smoke rolled out,
and the scuttle was closed again, for
Will saw that nothing could be done in
that way. The men ran forward with
axes, but had scarcely gone dozen
steps when they felt the deck tremble
under their feet and saw small jets of
flame shooting up through the planks.
A moment more and there was a sort of
explosion, and the red flames leaped up
suddenly ami caught the planks above.
There was no hope of concealing the
danger from the passengers now, for the
steamer was full of smoke, and wild
cries from the deck announced that the
danger was known. They must face
the most terrible danger known to the
sea, the danger of all others the most
feared the danger Of fire! Women
shrieked and tainted, strong men trem-
bled and could not move hand or foot,
and others ran wildly about the decks,
rendering no assistance. Mabel Vane,
utterly bewiidered by the sudden horror,
felt Il s;rcng hand clutch her arm, and
saw VIII Clay. blackened by smoke and
singed by fame.
''Go aft" he said, hoarsely. Stand
on the port quarter and wait for me, and
/ will save you or die trying. Obey me,
girl! ! am your master now"
She looked at him in mute wonder and
obeyed Ainl in silence. He sprang away
and began 10 fight the fire as he COULD
aided by the officers and crew and some
few Of the passengers who kept Their
heads. Among these was Arthur Vane
handsome old gentleman, with AN en-
gasing face.
"lou are a man. William Clay" he
said, as the two hurled the contents of a
great water cask down the open hatch.
'If we ever escape, the company shall
know that they have got man in their
employment. If we don't, it is all the
same. Have you seen my daughter"
II sent her aft just now, and told her
that would save her or lose my life.
And I'll do it, too, because love her."
"Love her, you"
"Just now you said Twas man." said
Will, quietly. LAY hold on that cask,
you. What are you Sinking for; can't
we talk and work, too?"
A strange smile came over the face of
the old merchant, and they hurled the
task into the water, and assisted the
men working at the fall in raising it.
Don't think I'm a fool, Mr.. Vane,"
Iaid Will. eff lived 1000 years and
Iaw her every day, wouldn't tell her as
much as I've told you. And what's
nore-you wouldn't have heard me say
tiff had not come out before thought"
Mr.. Vane said not word and Will
Clay was silent. They worked hard to
save the steamer, but the flames gained
upon them inch by inch and drove them
aft.
"Give it up, captain" whispered Will
"Get out the boats and provision them
Take time for all you want, and we vii
fight the fire."
The sailors worked with will unit
they saw the boats drawing up to tnt
gangway and the passengers taking
places, when they left their work anc
sprang for the boats. The passenger
made a rush at the same moment but az