Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-26

tain Allaire and his companions. My trus
is in God. He will not let 1t come t.
naught.
| There was a wonderful tone Of assuranc,
in these words. They bespoke an extraord
mary energy; they expressed so eloquentl,
the firm conviction of the speaker that he
husband would yet be found that their ef
feet was startling; and yet whileevery per
son present listened with respect bordering
| upon yeneration to this rare woman, he
| could none the less bring himself to think
that her SOULS yearning would ever be salts
| fed. And yet perhaps her audience would
| have done better to throw itself with firm
reliance upon that instructive eknowledgewith
which nature often endOws woman. While
man is unable or at least unwilling to form
deductions until he has first subjected facts
to actual and logical examination, woman,
| thanks to her powers of intuition, is often
enabled to make astonishing forecasts of the
future. 1t is some kindly instinct which
acts as her guide and imparts unto her proph-
etic lore. Who could say that the Captain 3
wife would not some day be right and all
the world wrong7
She and Andrew Hollister were now con-
Quoted to the cabin of the Molly's Hope
where Captain Willis gave them detailed
account Of the expedition. Maps of Poly
nesia and Malaysia were unroued upon the
table and he was thus enabled to trace out
step by step, from island to island, and port
to port the route followed by the steamer
"Permit me, Mrs. Allaire," said Willis,
'ato draw your attention to this point. The
Dreadnaught was seen for the last time off
the southerly end of Celebes Island on
May 8, 1875, that is, about seven weeks
after leaving San Diego. Since then we
have had no tidings of her. Therefore, as
she never reached Singapore, we are forced
to the conclusion that she was lost In the
Java sea- How? There are two theories:
The first is that she went down in gale or
after a collision, leaving no trace of her
existencej the second is that she went
ashore on the reefs and was completely
destroyed by the pirates to cover up their
crime. And yet, in either of these last two
cases, it is impossible that there should not
have been some debris, some fotsam, some
bit or scrap of her cargo to survive her;
but In spite of our efforts we have not been
able to find any actual proof of her de-
struction."
Hence Captain Willis inclined to the
opinion that the Dreadnaught had been
struck and destroyed by one of those tor
nadoes so often let loose in irresistible fury
upon these waters, for as regards the theory
of collision, it is very rare that both ves-
sells 60 down-one survives to tell the story.
Captain Willis conclusion was, although
he didn't express it, that all hope must be
abandoned. So thought Andrew Hollister,
too. He bent his head, he could not bear
the inquiring look which Molly fixed upon
him.
sNo! Nol' she exclaimed, "the Dread
naught did not go to the bottom. John and
his men have not perished!"
And Molly continued to question Willis
concerning the minutest details of the
search, encouraging, discussing, combating.
1t was not until after a session of three
hours that she rose to take her leave.
''ShalI proceed to put the Molly's Hope
out of commission?" asked Willis.
"By no means, Captain, was the answer.
'T have no intention to discharge you or
your crew. Who can say that another
cruise will be as barren of results as this has
been? viii you retain command of the
steamer"
81 would do so willingly, Mrs. Allaire,
but belong to the Hollister concern; possi-
bly, they may need my services.
Don't let that stand in your way"
my dear Willis" said Mr.. Hollister. "I
an !. only too happy to place you under Mrs
'Be it so then, Mr.. HOllister, I viii Stick
TO the Molly's Hope
"And, Captain Willis, ;" said Molly, "hold
yourself in readiness to sail at any mo-
nent"
In giving his consent the shipping mer-
,hant had had no other thought than to de-
Ter tc Molly's wishes.
Both he and Captain Willis had imagined |
hat she would give up all ideas of a second |
expedition after the absolute failure of the |
irst. If time was never to weaken her re- |
nembrance of her husband, at least it would |
n the end destroy every shred of hope Of |
'ver seeing him again. In accordance with |