Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-09-27

iMPNGssWl INCIDENT m Mio-ocGAN.
Early oes morning. ths mate Wa
startled b. u: cry hon aiofs, "9laes
saots ahsad, sisi A BIG steamer stand
lng 70 ths southvard."
he csptaln vas called and IN trics
bounded ou deck where, applying the
glass 70 his ere, 10 took . ionG look et
he strangsr, who had pushed % sud-
deuly out Of the early mlst hanging low
upon The horisoa.
Whatevee her character, Ne bad bat
little chance Of escape n abe had rins
guns. Many glance Of spprshsns'on
vas directed toward the sombef hull
and pair Of sloplng su,oksstacks With
The tWistiag smoke trcnding far sstsru.
"Show hlm our colors, air! Bend on
ths ensign; ne may - well b hung tor
sheep ~ lamb. II that fellow 10 {
rebel, the sooner We know u the bettef!''
exclaimed the captain, somewhat ex-
citedly % the mate.
. was close upon slx bells e o'clock)
when thu steamer revealed her natioo-
ality.
We fairly yelled when the blood-rcd
cross OF St. George danced mp alot from
the steamers signal halyards. She Was
evidently troop shlp bound fos The
Cape, tribe out ut her course, but ~
did not stop 10 consider that.
She Vas too FAR distant TO speak, but,
| In Obedience to . gesture from the
captain, the mate emptied . bag OF gay
ly.colorcd signals on deck and the boyi
we're called an to man the halyards and
lend hand to bend on the magic hags'
Upward duttered tho parti-colorsd bit.
of bunting; glasses were leyeled and
brcathless expectancy marked the sun
burnt features of the slippers crew, fol
the Inquiry dying from our mlssenroyal'
mat VAS, "what news of the American
wary"
The fash Of foam cast up by the hugs
propeller greeted our strAInlng Vision
the great steamer glided onward, but nc
responsive signals gladdened the anx'
ious hearts Of those ycarnlng to heat
the news from home.
With . passionate exclamation Of die
appointment the captain closed the
joints of his big glass With . savss'
snap, saying, a. he turned away: "lls
hasnt our code. it's M use"
"Iook at that" suddenly exclaimed
the mate, pointing. "what IL he so'ns
20 doY'
ale IL coming about! shouted IN,
captain, hls bronsci features fairly pal.
Ing. "Can it he possible he has played
us q trick, aud Il the AlAhamat Stand
by, all hands. for"
A deep blast of the steam whistle rum
bled over the flashing waters, followed
by Q number of quick toots % ths
steamer ranged To the leeward; then an
expanse of white canvas VAS lowered
over the side.
Glasses were directed upon that bright
patch amldships, upon which dark lines
could De dlscerpci With the naked eye,
The glAss allowed these were letters.
IL have t." shouted the captain, lesp'
Ing exciiesily Into the rigging. "sprcAd
the news fore aud aft Il says, 'rbs
American counlct 10 over. DaSis . fusi
tlse'-and what's thstf Heavens, no
yes-'l.incoln IL killed.
.Strike the colors half-msst, cir" con
tlnuei the captain to the mate In . sub
dued tone. Then, he added, "IIolst the
signal, Thank you,' to the steamer"
AZ that moment the rich full tones oI
rrgimentai band we're waited acros'
the hcaving swells, and many On ey'
glistencd With emotion ~ the well-kno~s
strains Of "liAii Columbia" we're family
heard. The steamer slowly fell OF and
resumed her course. while, 10 actuatst
by one impulse, officers aud men sprans
Into the wcather-riggins, giving thres
times three and waving their hats In re-
turn for the kindness of the courteou'
Eugllshmen. The stars and stripe'
were dipped three times, thu hoarss
whistle rang out In return, the "MeteoI
Dag" slowly and maie.tically returnet
the salute, and the greeting In mid
ocean Vas over.
"1he commander Of that craft u {
g-ntiemsn-eyery Inch Of him." was thu
admirins remark of the mate s h'
glanced asteru At the fast fading troop
ship.-St. Nicholas.