The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-04-10

glanced out, was startled to hear ape
culiaf roar, VIII ich I knew did not come |
from any part Of our steamer. Almost
at, the same moment, right on our port
quarter aft, there appeared great lumi-
nous glare through tho fog. At the
same time the blast OF steam whistle
sounded, and following it,, scream oil
terror on our boat, and q muiflel shou'
out OF tho fog.
Before had time to use the spcakines
tube, the quick, sharp clsng Of the gon
sounded, giving the signal to go ahead
followed Immediately by the full-spced
bell
sprang to the starting bar, but my
heart sank like lead rs went. In
moment nv worst fears we're realize
the engine would not move Frantically
strove to start it, but without avail.
Again and again came ths sharp, inpa-
tient clang OF the gong aud l heard
once more the scream Of terror.
Ikuew that IL tba. engine could he
started collision Tpsuld probably be
prevented, but in spite Of all my efforts,
1t remained immovable.
Just then Starr, aroused by the stop
ping OF the engine aud the commoti on,
rushed half-drcssed into the engine
room. saw him seize large wrench,
and run forward among the works, andl
never saw him again.
The next moment came grinding
crash. The Occident heclei sharply over
to the starboard. The bow of the NaVi2a-
tion Company's steamer, which had over
hauled Ills while We were running Mt half
cnool ctr, hn mort -nnartpr Alt
of the paddle box, and cut through the
guard deep into the hull of the occi-
dent.
Amid the crashing timbcrs, and tho
clouds Of steam escaping from broken
pipe, Harry Watkins came bounding into
the engine room.
"Billy," he shouted, W must look
after theso children I promised to"
lie snatched up the little girl, who had
awakened and was crying loudly.
The Occdent would probably sink in
few minutes, for there was hole in
her side through which the water was
rushing with frightful speed. Ithad al
ready reached the furnace fires.
Some life-prescrvers hung in the en-
gine room. These seized, aud throw
ing two to Watkins, buckled one upon
! myself and another on the boy.
looked around fof Starr, but could
not see him. He died at Ills post
Seeing that could be of no further
use in the engine room, l 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 tcw and almost useless.
The frightened Cinnamon were quiet
after the itst shock, and patiently sub
The steam& with which We had col
iided had drifted away in the foo Int
her shrill whistle could be heard not ror
away.
As Watkins reached tho rail of the
SINKING steamer, boat in charge of the
second mate, full of passengers, was Just
pushing off.
Jump in, Watkinsl cried the officer,
'ii"rc, take these childreni" sad tn.
purSCr.
"Crn t-hartlly room for one" said
the man. While he spoke, the men In
the boat, fearing she would be over.
loaded, pushed off.
Inc Oc2ldent was sinking rapidly. 1t
was plain she could float but a few mo.
mcnts longer.
"We must jump into the water, and
try to get rs far away from the wrcck "a
possible" said "The boats from tho
oS.Ier steamer may pick us up"
we made our way to the stern, rs that
~H"rdcd the .hcst4 4aarce 80 c,~~-;~u tho
wreck. "
"Hcre, Watkins, let me take care Of
the boyl' said I. "You can't look after
them both -
"All right, Billy, Don't lose him
ihcir mother is waiting at Seattle for
them, and | promised TO see them safe
there"
graspcd the boy by the hand ao,; , ,
:'o'|'"S nlm 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 n@ar together, and driftcd
rapidly away from the wreck. So dense
was the fog that, in n few moments, we
lost sight of everything, althounh wc
could plainly hear the cries and screams
OF the drowning people.
Natkihs exclaimed: "Billv,
one of the life prescrvers is gone!"
saw that the life preserver he had
IiTaDned @ on the little oiri, had -h..LA.
loose ana w. ---rnere to be seen. The
prescrvers would support fairly well the
weight of one person; but l saw that il
would be impossible for the rurscr tc
keep ah"at long, and support the child.
too.
40
y, n'.,s' said me- 81 can't keep her
'bovc the water this way. I'm noinr -
'"s my iiie preservcr on her"
"bnt, said ], chow will that helm
'o"' 1t won't support any more weight
lpon her than upon you"
mo, perhaps not" he gaspcd, be-
wcen his breaths, 'but she'll be safcros
NY rate. Billy, don't want to die, b,L
a rather die than let these chiIare.
rown. They'd have becu safe abaanI
he other boat II it hadn't been for nj, t.