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

her uncle, Edward Manson, and that sh'
was now in position to help them: AnC
yet neither one of them had made any at
tempt TO open correspondence with Molly
although their situation could not be other
wise than precarious.
January, February, March had gone by
and it began TO look as if 1882 would sliI
sway without bringing about any change il
the situation, when something happened
which really seemed likely to throw igh
upon the mysterious disappearance of the
clipper ship. On March % the steamer
Golden Gate, Oh which Zach French haC
Bhlpped as common seaman, entered the bay
OF San Francisco after a cruise of severa
years in European waters The moment
Mrs Allaire heard of this arrival, she wrote
80 Zach French, who had been promoted tt
boatswain, requesting him to call upon hel
at San Diego. As French was contemplat.
ing trip to his native town for the purpose
of enjoying few months rest, he replied
that be would start for San Diego as soon as
he could procure leave and would, upon
reaching that city, at once present himself
at Prospect Cottage, 1t would possibly be
a matter of several days.
In the meantime a rumor became current,
which, should it meet with confirmation,
was qualified to create sensation through
was alleged that the Golden Gate had picked
UP bit of wreck which in all likelihood
belonged 10 the ill-fated Dreadnaught. A
San Francisco paper reported that the
Golden Gate had come upon this fragment
TO the north of Australia in latitudes lying
between the Tmor Sea and the Sea of
ArafOura off the island of Melville to the
west Of Torres Strait.
The moment this news had been received
ct San Diego Mr.. Hollister and Captain
Willis whom it had reached by telegraph,
hastened to Prospect Cottage At the first
mention OF the subject Mrs Allaire turned
very pale, but she recovered herself in q
moment.
'Now that we have come upon this
trace" she cried out in a tone Of absolute
conviction, 1--WE shall find the Dreadnaught
sud after the ship has been found we shall
ind John and his companions"
The truth is, the finding of this bit of the
wreck was a matter Of great Importance.
Ii was the irsI time that fragment of the
lost vessel had come to light. Now, when
Mrs. Allaire betook herself to the region in
which the disaster had been located, she
would have in her possession ring of that
chain which held the past bound to the
present.
) map OF Oceanica was at once sent for,
and Mr.. Hollisyer and Captain Willis were
requested to enter upon the consideration of
a new route to be followed by the Molly's
Hope on her next cruise.
Then you incline to think, Captain"
said Alr. Hollister, that the Dreadnaught
did not enGeavor to reach Singapore by
crossing the Philippines and Malaysia"
Il do, replied Willis, ''to my mind, it's
improbable; yes, impossible"
Il IL Al.
Toute," pursued Hollister, chow comes it
that this piece of the wreck should have
beer found in the Arafoura Sea, to the north
OF Melville Island?"
Il can't understand it. I can't explain
It, " answered Willis. "All that can say
IS that the Dreadnaught was seen off the
southwest coast of Celebes Island after she
had passed the Strait of Macassar. Now, if
she entered this strait she did so from the
north and not from the east, and hence
could not have come in through Torres
Strait"
This question was discussed at consider
able length, and it ended in the acceptance
Of Captain Willis views.
Mrs. Allaire had listened in silence to
this discussion; but her knitted brows in
dicated with what tepacity, what persist
cncv she clung to her belief that John and
bis companions were still among the living. |
\ O.; she was determined to stand steadfast |
until actual proofs of their death should be |
her.
81 agree with you, nv dear Willis, cried /
Andrew Hollister, that the Dreadnaught |
IN her way to Singapore crossed the Java
Sea. o."
Part of the way at least, Mr.. Hollister
Tor 1t was between Singapore and Celebes
Island that the vessel was wrecked"
''Thats so, but still how was it possible
.or this piece of the wreck to drift as far as
.he australian coast if the Dreadnaught |
went to pieces on some reef in the Java |
Sea-"
There is only way TO explain it." re-
llied Captain Willis, land that is by as
5Gming that this fragment of the ship was
lravn through Lambock or some other one
lf the straits which connect the waters
north Of these islands with the Timor and
Aratoura seas"
"Do the currents set in that way?"
"Nes Mr.. Hollister, and would 20 SO
ar as 10 say that the Dreadnaught after
having been dismantled in tornado may
nave been sucked into one of the straits and
lnally been cast on some reef north of the
Australian coast"
YOU'RE right, nv dear Willis" cried
Andrew Hollister cts the only reasona-
bAE IL l'GlllNSis anu Ol4G COuCluelOn Is lTT6-
istible that if a fragment of the wreck has
leen picked up to the north of Melville
Island SIX years after the disaster it must
nave been recently detached from the reefs
N which the clipper ship went to pieces"
This explanation was qualified to carry
conviction to the mind of any intelligent
esnan.
''Since it is more than likely" added
Mrs Allaire, whose gaze still remained riv-
.teG upon the map unrolled before her,
that the Dreadnaught was driven ashore
n the coast of Australia, and since none of
he shipwrecked crew have made their ap-
learance here or elsewhere, it follows that
hey are held prisoners"
THAT is not impossible Molly" inter
upted Mr.. Hollister.
Mrs Allaire was upon the point Of pro-
estilg vigorously against the implication
in his answer when Captain
Wills broke in with:
eve have yet TO determine that this frag-
lent Of wreck picked up by the Golden
.aUe really belongs to Captain Johns
hip"
Have you any doubt of it7" inquired
Ioilv.
1--WE shall soon be able to solve that
uestion," cried the merchant, ''for have
rdered the fragment to be forwarded to
IS. -"
and have given ORDERS" added Mrs.
Allaire, that the Molly's Hope be kept in
sGdiness TO sail at any moment"
Three days after this conversation Zach
'rGnch, the boatswain, reached San Diego
nd presented himself at Prospect Cottage.
l.irry-seven years of age, strongly built,
18th a face Drowned by exposure and eyes
ll Of determination, this man had some
hing frank and pleasing about him. You
alt that he belonged to the kind that never
arinks back OF hesitates, but goes straight