The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-08
A STORY OF THE SEA.

A dead calm of the equator. The ses
moved in long, unruffled oily lookinE
swells in which our almost motionlesl
ship was reflected with fidelity that wa.
startling. | looked over the rail TO see ny
anxious, unshaven face staring back at ms
from the rail of reversed ship. Occasion
ally the vessel gave a lethargic sort of roll
which caused the reef points to fall with
successive gentle "p-i-a-p-s" against the
wrinkling surface of the canvas.
A stones throw distant the leathery dor
sal fin of an immense shark was slowly
cleaving the smooth expanse in extended
concentric circles, as though its owner was
in no particular hurry TO leave our vicin
ity. Just before turned away a gigantic
devil fish, full twenty feet in length,
shaped not unlike boys knife, but hav-
ing winglike side fms and long, taperine
tail, drifted under the quarter a couple OF
feet below the surface
The heat from the tropic sun, beating
down on the CLASSY sea from the cloudless
sky, was almost lntolerable. The spankeI
had been lowered, and the courses, braided
up, were hanging in their brails to prevent
the wear and chafe consequent upon the
wearisome ''slat" of canvas which followed
every roll OF the Ship go there was no
shade whatever
The pitch in the deck seemed to fairly siz.
zle, and the touch OF the deck on top OF
the after house would nearly blister the
bare skin But the heat itself, the exas
perating calm and the probability of its
continuance for longer or shorter period
these were in themselves of little moment
as compared with the gravity of our situa
tion IN other respects.
The Doris was a small. swift sailing
Clyde built iron ship. on her home bouno
passage to London from Calcutta. where
had joined her ia the capacity of second
officer We mad touched At Cape Town tc
replace couple of men who were washed
overheard during a fearful gale in tn
Bay of Bengal, but before we passed the
island of St Helena both of the recruits
were stricken down with a sort of maliC
nant typhoid, whose origin might posi-
bly, be traced to the after effects of the
poisonous Cape brandy. or Cape SMOKE"
as it is called by the Beers and KroomeD
in which the two sailors had freely in
dulged during their brief stay ashore.
They died within three hours of each
been assiduous in his attentions to them
was attacked by the malady. and at tn
same time two more of the crew took tt
their berths, placing a pretty heavy respon-
sibility on Mr. Farr, the first officer, and
myself. for the ship carried but ten befort
the mast, and there WAS no knowing whert
the disease might stop.
Two days before the ship entered the
L Il. I'll
died, and two more were stricken down.
one of them being a bright faced young
fellow of sixteen, belonging in Scituate
Mass. As he and myself were the only
two New Englanders in the ship l had
taken natural fancy to him
On the morning when my story begins
Captain Thatcher died, few moments OF
partial consciousness succeeding the de-
hrium of fever
Thank God, | have neither wife uol
child TO leave behind" be said, with faint
smile. as Mr.. FarT and myself stood by his
berth receiving his last brief orders Then
as his white lips murmured, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit" the soul left its tene
ment of clay.
The young seaman, Charley F.. was the
next to pass away. holding my hand in his
TO the last As he whispered n message &c
his widowed mother; aud before his eyes
were closed in death a Norwegian sailor in
his berth beneath had breathed his last,
leaving four men out Of a crew of ten-a
cook, steward. Nr Farr, who at once as
sumed command, and myself, who was
thus suddenly and unexpectedly promoted
TO the first officers position. The extreme
heat necessit itaued an immediate burial
The duty of stitching up the dead in their
canvas shroud Was performed. after which
ali were laid On the after cabin grating
and covered with the union jack.
The old Tuan-s'-wars man TO whom, a.
the ships sailmaker, this last sad service
had been signed, WAS character in his
way 1 can see him now, ss-with his
coarse shirt thrown open In front, display
ing a ship under fui! sail emblazoned on
his brawny chest. and sleeves rolled above
the elbow joints of mis- muscular arms,
which were a mass Of tattooirg-he beck
oned me TO the main deck
If You please, sir. he said in low
yet matter OF fact tone. as be indicated
the outlines of the motionleSs forms be-
meath ths hsg. I've stitched a hextra ten
pound OF held hiron 10 the 'eels of hev'ry
one on account OF them" indicating by
significant gesture two dorsal fms a short
distance from the ship.
VERY well Bob" l said. repressing g
slight shudder "cah the men aft"
The COOK and the steward were sum
moned. aud as Mr. Fsrr. 5areheaded. csms
FROM the cabin with the open prayer book
in his hand. the grating was lifted 70 the
rNil
1--WE therefore commit his body to the
deep" AT the solemn words drew the
Tag from the three shroudsd bodies, and
the inboard end of the grating wss lifted
arm high; 3 sullen, simultaneous plunge
and the waters had closed over our com
psnions till the Sea gives up It's dead
The forecastls was fumigzted with Tar,
while the bedding and blankets belonpas
10 the deceased were thrown overheard.
and we could only hope that the progreas
Of the fell disease was stayed The foaI
remaining nIen seemed fairly well, while
none Of the rest of Us felt any premonitory
symptoms Of illness.
There was some relief for our heated