The Opelousas courier., 1891-05-16

of order, as it often did just as sud-
Denly.
I ran hastily over the engine, but
could find nothing broken. I concluded
that it must be in some of the many hid
den parts.
Expecting every moment to hear the
signal to go ahead, / stepped to the
s~peaking-tube which connected the en-
glne-room with the room of the chief
engineer, intending to call Starr. The
speaking-tube was near the door, through
which I could see out of the gangway
over the guard, aft of the paddle-box
AS I paused a moment at the door and
glanced out, [ was startled to hear a pc
GUITAR roar, which I knew did not come
from any part of our steamer. Almost
at the same moment, right on our port
quarter aft, there appeared a great lumi-
nous glare through the fog. At the
same time the blast of d steam whistle
sounded, and following it, a scream of
terror on our boat, and a mufaed shout
out of the fog,
Before l had time to use the speaking
tube, the quick, sharp clang of the gong
sounded, giving the signal to go ahead,
followed Immediately by the full-speed
bell.
Isprang to the starting bar, but my
heart sank like lead as l went. In a
moment my worst fears were realized
tie engine would not move. Frantically
7 cL.,r1 - ,Eo-E - l;,G Without ouaII 4
Again and again came the sharp, impa-
tient cIang of the gong, and l heard
once more the scream of terror.
I knew that il that engine could be
started. a collision would probably be
prevented, but in spite of all my efforts,
1t remained %immovable.
Just then Starr, aroused by the stop
ping of the engine and the commoti on,
rushed half-dressed into the engine
room. [ saw him seize a large wrench,
and run forward among the works, andI
never saw him again.
The next moment came a grinding
crash. The Occident heeled sharply over
to the starboard. The bow of the Naviga-
ton Company's steamer, which had over
hauled us while we were running at half
speed, struck us on the port-quarter aft
Of the paddle-box, and cut through the
guard deep into the hull of the Occl-
dent.
Amid the crashing timbers, and the
clouds of steam escaping from a broken
pipe, Harry Watkins came bounding into
the engine room.
"Billy," he shouted, 81 must look
after these children I promised toll"
He snatched up the little girl, who had
awakened and was crying loudly.
The Occident would probably sink in
a few minutes, for there was q hole in
Ter side through which the water was
rushing with frightful speed. 1thad al
ready reached the furnace fires.
Some life-preservers hung in the en-
CINE room. These l seized, and throw
ing two to Watkins, buckled n upon
myself and another on the boy.
I looked around for Starr, but could
not see him. He died at his-post.
Seeing that I could be of nc further
use in the engine room, I followed Wat
kins, who, carrying the girl and leading
the boy, was stumbling to the starboard
gangWay.
In the meantime the mates and crew
were occupied in getting out the boats,
which were few and almost useless.
The frightened Cinnamon were quiet
after the first shock, and patiently sub
mitted to be driven back from the
boats.
The steamer with which we had col
lided had drifted away in the fog, but
her shriIl whistle could be heard not far
away.
As Watkins reached the rail of the
sinking steamer, a boat in charge of the
second mate, full of passengers, was just
pushing off.
"Jump in, Watkinsi" cried the officer.
"Here, take these children" SAID the
purser.
"Can't-hardly room for one" said
the man. While he spoke, the men IN
(, the boat, fearing she would be over
loaded, pushed off.
The Occident was sinking rapidly. It
was plain she could float but a few mo-
ments longer.
eve must jump into the water, and
try to get as far away from the wreck as
possible" I said. ssThe boats from the
other steamer may pick us up"
We made our way to the stern, as that
afforded the best chance Of clearing the
wreck.
"Here, Watkins, let me take care of
the boyl" said /. "You can't look after
them BOTH
.All right, Billy, Don't lose him.
Their mother is waiting at Seattle for
them, and | promised to see them safe
there
l grasped the boy by the hand, and
holding him fast, jumped into the chill
ing waters of the Sound. Watkins, hold
ing the little girl in his arms, followed
Immediately after me.
We all rose near together, and drifted
rapidly away from the wreck. So dense
was the fog that, in a few moments, we
lost sight Of everything, although we
could plainly hear the cries and screams
! Of tie drowning people.
Presently Watkins exclaimed: "Billy,
one of the life preservers is gonet"
I saw that the life preserver he had
! strapped on the little girl had broken
loose, and was nowhere to be seen. The
| preservers would support fairly we'll the
weight of one person; but | saw that il
would be impossible for the purser to
keep aioat long, and support the child,
too.