Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02
CHAPTER XIV.
LIFE AT LAST.

LIFE AT LAST
Two letters had been received from Cap.
tain Willis since the sailing of the Molly's
Hope. The first reported their fruitles,
search among the passages of Torres Strait
and as far as the outer edge of the Arafoura
Sea The second made known the fact that
Melville and Bathurst Islands had yielded
up no trace of the Dreadnaught There
upon Mrs Allaire had been notified the
steamer would follow the Timor Sea and SO
reach the western coast of Australia, where
the search would be continued among the
different archipelagoes 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 find
ing some new evidence of the life or death
of Captain John and his companions.
By the end of February, however, Mr..
Hollistsr began to be of the opinion that
the second expedition was being greatly
prolonged. Every day people could be
seen on their wav to Island Point in hopes
the steamer would make her appearance in
the ofing. AS far as they could see her,
without waiting for her to display her num-
Der, the sailors of San Diego would recog,
nize her by the cut of her jib, just as one
cen tell a Frenchman from German, or
even an American from an Englishman
Finally, on March 27, the MoIly's Hope
hove in sight about nine miles out, steam
ing along under full headway before fresh
northwester. Before o'clock she had en-
tered the narows and anchored lust inside
the bay. The news had spread rapidly
through the city, and crowds of people had
gathered at different points, some on the
wharves, Some OF Island Point, and some on
Iona Point. Mrs. Allaire and Andrew
Hollister, 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 a cry went up. They
seemed to haas concluded that if Captain
Willis had succeeded upon this second ex-
pedition, the news of his success would
have been known everywhere by this time.
Twenty minutes later, the tug bearing
Mrs. .Allaist Nh. Hollister and their friends
came up alongside the steamer. In mo-
ment or so tn ~ had learned the results of
the expedition. 1t was in the western part
of limo: Sea on Browse Island that the
Dreadnaughs had gone to pieces. There 1t
was that the survivors of the wreck had
taken refuge and there it was that they had
met their death.
tAll?" whispered Mrs. Allaire
CALL" said Captain Willis.
A terrible feeling of sorrow and despair
came upon the people as the Mollys Hope,
with her colors draped with Grape, steamed
slowly in nearer the city. During the few
moments that Mrs. Allaire and Andrew
Hollister remained on board, Captain Willis
had briefly made known to them the facts of
the wreck of the Dreadnaught on Browse
Island. Ii was decided to delay report of
the expedition until later. After pressing
Willis and French's hands, Molly had
walked toward the stern of the steamer and
sat down lost in thought, but, in spite of
these incontrsvertible proofs, not giving
herself over to despair, still unwilling to
consider herself the widow of John Allaire.
When the Molly's Hops had taken up
her position nearer the city Mrs Allaire
reappeared amidships and approaching
Captain Willis begged him and Mr.. Hollis
ter, and also Zach French, to meet her at
her house tha: same day at later hour
A little before 8 the men made their ap-
pearance at Prospect Cottage and were
received by Mrs Allaire in the parlor on
the ground floor.
Captain Willis" said she, after they
had taken their places around a table upon
which was unrolled a map of Northern
Australia, ''be pleased to make report of
the expedition"
Mrs. Allaire listened with the deepest
interest, uJtering no word of comment, with
her clear and hopeful eyes riveted upon the
speaker. AS the Captain in his report
entered upon the portion relating to Browse
Island she insisted upon the greatest par
ticularity.
Captain Willis drawing from his pocket
a medallion tarnished by dampness placed
it in her outstretched hand. 1t contained
portrait of Molly, a Photographic miniature
John on the sailing of the Dreadnaught, and
it had been found by Willis men in cor
ner of the cave upon a second examination
Of the place. If this silent witness testified
to the presence of Captain John among the
survivors was not the conclusion inevitable
that he had perished with the others from
want and exposure?
Had we reached here few years SOON
er," said Captain Willis, 'tperhaps we
might have found John and his companions
some Of them still alive"
Yes, perhaps, sighed Andrew Hollister.
eyes" he continued, sit was there that
first place, but who could ever have thought
that the Dreadnaught had been wrecked on
an island of the Indian ocean,"
'tNo one, )" replied Willis, "at least not
from the route ne was to have followed, and
which he did in reality follow, too for the
Dreadnaught was sighted to the south of
Celebes Island. Captain John having lost
control of his vessel, must have been swept
through some strait into the Timor Sea, and
was driven upon Browse Island.
Eyes, that must have been the way it
added Zach.
Captain" said Mrs. Allaire, ''you have
only done what you should have done in |
searching the Ma1aysian seas for the Dread |
naught, but if we had only gone to Browse
Island on the first expedition; ah, yes, if |
we had only gone thereP'
Then, with sudden change In her man