The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-02
CHAPTER XIV.

Two letters had been received from Cap
tain Willis since the sailing of the Molly's
Hope. The first reported their fruitless
search among the passages of Torres Strait
and as far as the outer edge of the Ara
foura Sea. The second made known the
fact that Melville and Bathurst Islands had
Welded up no trace of the Dreaduaught.
Thereupon Mrs. Allaire had been potilied
that the steamer would follow the Timor
Sea and so reach the western coast of Aus
tralia, where the search would be continued
among the different arehipelagoes adjacent
to that coast, after which the Molly's Hope
would sail for home, but not, however, until
she had rausacked the smaller OF the Sunda
Islands and exhausted every hope of finding
some new evidence of the life or death of
Captain JOHN and his companions.
By the end of February, however, Mr.
HOLSTER began to bs Of the opinion that
the second exped ton was being greatly pro-
longed. Every day people could be seen on
their way TO Island Point in hopes the
steamer would make her appearance in the
offing. As far as they could see her, with
out waiting for her to display her number,
the sailors of San Diego would recognize
her by the cut of her lib, just as one can
tell Frenchman from German or even an
American from an EngliShman. Finally,
on March 9th. the Molly's Hope hove in
sight about nine miles out, steamng along
under full Roadway before a fresh
Northwestern. Before l o'clock she had
entered the narrows and anchored just in
side the bay. The news had adj rar-
idly through the city and crowds OF PEG pie
had gathered at different points, some on
the wharves, some off Island Point and
some on Iona Point. Mrs. Allaire aud
Andrew HOLSTER, together with several
friends, in their haste TO communicate with
the steamer, had taken tug and were already
under way. A strange presentiment had
come upon the crowd and as the tug steamed
by not cry went up They seemed to
have concluded that II Captain Willis had
succeeded upon this second expedition the
news OF his success would have poem known
everywhere by this time.
Twenty minutes later the tug bearing Mrs.
Allaire, Mr.. HOLSTER and their friends
came up alongside the steamer. In mo-
ment or so they had learned the results of
the expedition. 1t was in the west part Of
Timor Sea, on Browse Island, that the
Dreadnaught had gone to pieces. There il
was that the survivors of the wreck had
taken refuge and there it was that they had
met their death.
?" whispered Mrs AIlaire
GAIL"
A terrible feeling of sorrow and DESPAIR
came upon the people as the Molly's Hope.
with her colors draped with Grape, steamed
slowly In nearer the city. During the few
moments that Mrs. Allaire and Andrew
| HOLSTER remained on board Captain VIII
| lis had briefly made known to them the
| facts of the wreck of the Deadnaught on
| Browse Island. 1t was decided TO DELAY a
report of the expedition until later. After
pressing Willis and French's hands Molly
walked toward the stern of the steamer and
sat down lost in thought. but in spite of
those incontrovertible proofs, not giving
| herself over to despair, still unwilling TO
consider herself tile widow of John AL
| laire.
| When the Molly's Hope had taken up her
| position near the city Mrs. Allaire reap
| peared amidships and, approaching Captain
| Willis. begged him and Mr.. HOLSTER and
Zach French to meet her at her house that
| same day, al an hour later. A little before