The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-04-10
Of order, as It oitea just as sud.

oenty. jssfs.T
I ran hastily oyes. The engine, but
could find nothing btokeu concluded
that 1t must be In pems he many hid
den parts. a
Expecting every md y to hear the
sigusi to go ahead, IN xbped to the
speaking tube which connected the en-
gine:room with the room lpf the chief
sengineers intending TO caHl Starr. The
speaking ,tpbo was near The ioor, through
which Icoald SEQ ~ the gaugway
-sset th3 sSt boz,
ASH b&6sed a momen at thS SJcskr -
glanced out, I was startled to, hear a Pc
culias roar, VIII ich 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 OF
terror on our boat, and mufflel shout
out of tho fog.
Before had time to use the speaking
tube, the quick, sharp clang of the gou
sounded, giving the signalIto go ahead
followed Immediately by the full-speed
bell.
Isprang to the starting bar, but my
heart sank like lead as went. In {:
moment my worst fears were realize
the engine would not mova Frantically
strove to start it, but without avail.
Again and again came the sharp, impa-
tient clang OF the gong aud heard
once more the scream Of terror.
~. 1 know that il that engine could he
started q collisi6E Sysuid 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-dressed into the engine
room. l saw him seize large wrench,
and run forward among the works, and I
never saw him again.
The next moment came grinding
crash. The Occident heele1 sharply over
to the starboard. The bow of the Navigs-
tion 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 Occi-
dent.
Amid the crashing timbers, and tho
clouds of steam escaping from broken
pipe, Harry Watkins came bounding into
the engine room.
"Billy," he shouted, 'T must look
after these children. / promised to-"
lie snatched up the little girl, who had
awakened and was crying loudly.
The Occident would probably sink in
Few minutes, for there was hole in
her side through which the water was
rushing with frightful speed. It had 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 foi Starr, but could
not see him. He died at his post:
Seeing that l could be of no further
use in the engine room, / 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 Chinamen were quiet
after the tilss shock, and patiently sub
mn A
The steamf with which We had col.
hded had drifted away in tho foo hn.
her shrill whistle could be heard not fSr
away. 81 "o' iar
As Watkins reached the rail of tho
sinking steamer, boat in charge of the
second % mate, full of passengers, was lust
Jump in, Watkinsi' cried the officer
here, take these childreni. saIn tho
purser ' VIC
:, "cant-hardly room for one" said
the man. While he spoke, the mon IN
: INC ooat' fearing she would be over.
loaded, pushed off.
The Occident was sinking ranid,v T.
was plain she could float but a few mn
ments longer. ~" '''
"We must jump into the water, and
Iry TO get as lar away from the wreck as
possible" said. "The boats from tho
''ner steamer may pick us up"
we made our way to the stern. as t,at
,nardted tho lhestf As$nna-.of-nloasinr the
"Here, Watkins, let me take care Of
ne ooyI said I. "You can't look after
y, Ai right, Billy, Don't lose him
,helr mother is waiting at Seattle for
hem' and promised TO see them safe
;grasped the boy by the hand. and
olding him fast, jumped into the chill.
's waters Of the Sound Watkins, hold.
ng the little girl in his arms, followed
Immediately after me.
We all rose near together, and drifted
'p'diy away from the wreck. So dense :
as the fog that, in few moments we
st sight of everything, although we
'uld plainly hear the cries and screams
the drowning people.
presently Watkins exclaimed: uR;uv
'e OF the life prescryers is gonep
! saw that the ffe preserver he had
1aened 1sg On the little oirl, had h-.loa
use, ana w.------shere to be seen TSc -
eservers would support fairly we'll the Al
'ignt OF one person; but saw that II Al
'"ia be impossible for the purscr 70
ep ahoat long, and support tho child IA