The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-04

1
glass they got light and built fire
the first warmth Of the journey. They
cooked some food, bat there was too lit.
tie Of it to do much good, and the beis-
ferrous waters still drenched them and q
keen wind searched their bones, and all
too soon bursting roller quenchsd the
friendly blaze.
On the 10th of December, Friday, a
conica cloud rose on the horizon-rose,
but lay stiA instead of scudding away
with ruin in its breath as the others did.
Then HaHord shouted, LAND hor'
He had been to the islands once be-
fore, and recognized Kauhulnau rock,
the most extreme southwestern point Of
the group.
! AS the boat rose and fell or the rollers
the misty smudge of Nihua and even
Kauia hove in sight, but the wind shout
dered the forlorn boats crew back from
the shore, and beat and ASck as they
would her head fell away again and
again, and the last they could do was ia
hang quivering between hope and the
deep sea.
The tragedy now drew to rapid close.
Sunday night they were of Hanelei
harbor, and still the wind with its
mighty fail winnowed out their strength
and patience.
At midnight they hove to. Thon the
slope of heaven touched / o'clock-the
last day had come.
Two o'clock was marked by the wheel
ing stars-half-p and then. like a
panther, the wind leaped out to sea, and,
crouching back of its quarry, blew in
shore as fercely as it had before blown
seaward.
Dreading another change, they de-
cided not to wait for morning, but to
make harbOr at once, and when the
boats head was put on Talbot drew his
first breath of assured safety for those
IN his charge and the shipmates left be-
hind in the lonely Pacific.
AS the water shoaled toward the ridge
of the reef Halford came up from below.
He says as he got in the cockpit wave
broke abaft, and Talbot called OUT
STEADY, there. Bring her by the wind"
Both Francis and Andrews sprang to
obey him, but heavy wave burst
against the boats side, upsetting her
and washing them both away to the
mysterious death of the sea. They were
never seen again.
Talbot managed to catch and cling to
the bilge of the boat as she foated keel
up. and Halford-who was hanging to
the stern and casting off his clothing
called to him to come astern and climb
up on her. But, drowning his words,
came third wave, and when it passed
he was alone.
In the pause of the gathering sea he
scrambled on tho boats bottom, and
clinging there, rode naked through the
glittering death that beat and broke
about him. And the first line of break
ers was passed in safety.
In the second the boat rolled over, but
righted herself head on to land, and
drifted ashore near Kilihi-Kai, Eve m1es
from Hanelei.
As she drifted there rose groans from
the cockpit, and the sailor, Muir, who
had been below during all these scenes,
came out on deck, a hopeless mailman.
AS the boat touched the beach Hal
ford took what papers he could save and
helped Muir ashore, then fell exhausted
and slept or tainted until daybreak.
When he awoke Muir was gone, and
he saw the natives taking something
from the sea. Hoping it was his beloved
commander, he dragged himself to the
spot; but the purple face, starting eye
balls and foam covered lips were those
of his mess,nate, horrible in death.
After securing the boat and getting
some food and clothing from the IDLY |
Kanakas he began to patrol the beach,
waiting to see whether the incoming |
tide would give up its dead.
At : o'clock the rollers heaved into |
sight and tossed from crest to crest a
dark object, and rushing into the surf |
Halford drew out Talbot's body; and al
though his reason told him it would be !
useless, his love impelled him to work for
hours to revive him. When forced to
admit the fltility of his efforts he rode
TO Hanelei to deliver up his trust, ask
burial for the dead and to beg the imme-
date dispatch of help to those his officer
had died to save.
On Christmas eve the relief steam
er was sent out, but the young Ken
tuckian, who had gained the battle, al
though he died before the strong wine
If victory touched his lips, had then
slept five days in his foreign grave, and
his grave is the spot on which the tablet
stands.
But his loyal dust keeps the watch be-
ow under the green pillows of his native
;hurcnyard, and there may his rest be
sweet until
The great Captain Christ
Shall pipe all hands aloft.