The Lamar register., 1892-10-29
THE CASTAWAYS.

Naru uo1n4 from a New Zealand port
whs approaching the meridian OF the
Horn. but on parallel more south.
crly than IL il now the custom OF
steamships TO take in rounding that
stormy. ico-girt desolnte and most
inhospiiable OF all headlands.
December in those distant regions
Is midsummer. and tho weather OF
that morning was as fair and still as
broczoless April day ia this eoun-
try, bat the swell OF the vast tract Of
ocean ran ly-reminiscent
resplrations Of a giantess whose con-
fici With tho heavens is eternal and
whose breathing panses are very few
aHd far between, indeed. Over this
long dark blue. westerly swell tho
greA; metal fabric wont sweeping in
long floating launching courtesies
whitening the water astern OF her
with u mile OF wake
The chief o1iccr was on the bridge.
the hrst breakfast bell had rung and
tho captain smart as naval officer
In buitoas aud lace trimmings quilted
The chart room and Joined the mate
20 take look around before going
below This skipper vas a man of
eagle sight and Instantly on directing
his eyes over the ships bow he OK
claimed.
What IS tha; black object yon.
aerY'
The chief mats peerel and the cap
tain levcicj telescope.
~ ships boa. said he and
seemingly full OF people
The boat when sighted. was some
three or ioar miles distant aud the
speed OF tho steamship was about
thirteen knots In u few minutes the
alarm In The engine room rang It's re-
verberaiory warning. sending little
IhriIl OF wonder throughout the ship
90 rarely ia that telegraph handled on
tho high seas
Il count eight men sir. cried the
chief mRte. with blnocuIar glass at
his eye
Again the engine rooH- alarm rang
ont; the pulsing thA. for days had
been ceaseIessiy ihr0bbing through
tho long fabric lauguishe1 and in a
few minutes to another summons of
the metal tongue below ceased. and
the great steamship hoa;ed aloug TO
her own impetus slowly TIL the boat
was within the toss OF biscuit OF the
bow. with the passengers crowding TO
the side and sailors and walters and
stscrHgo folk blackening tho rail for
ward
The occupants OF the boat consisted
OF eight wild harry. veEitablo scare
crows OF men dressed IN divers fash
.ons-Scoich capS sea boots toll worn
monkey jackets and the Ike
Boat ahoyn hailed the captain ms
She slowly washed alongside What
l- wrong with yous
A fellow standing up 10 the stern
sheets cried back in a strong Yankee
accents
FOR Gods sake sir take us
nboardi Our waters almost given out
and there's nothing lef; 10 eat "
Look out for the cad OF line
bawled the captain Are you
strong enough to get aboard without
help
Aye sir. well manage it +"
A rope WAS thrown. md one after
another the fellows came swinging
and scrapiug and scramb!ing up the
clean side of the steamship Tho pas
.enrers crowded around and gazed ut
them with curiosity and pity. Their
sympa,hetic eyes seemed TO find fam
inc painfully expressed in the leath-
ern countenances that stared back
al ihem through mats OF hair
I'VE must let your boat 60" said
the captain.
Cant help It sir; thankful enough
to be hero / reckon. " answered the
fellow who had called from the stern
sheets and who acted as spokesman.
Anything belonging to you to come
out7"
Nothing by tho etarual. Let her
90 sir. II sailors sea blessings can
freight n craft she amt going to hoat
long"
The boat was sent adrlft the en-
gine bell rang out once more the
great mail steamer was thrashing
over the long. tall heave OF Cape
Horn swell.
How camo you into this mess?n
inquired the captain.
The man who had spoken before
made answer
IVY re all that $ ieIt oI tuo Sto" VI
the Boston bark George Washington.
She was n whaleE one hundred and
eiehty-iour days out 1t were four
days ago. | was the first to smell
fire, some while arter two o'clock. in
the middle watch
.It wanted ten minutes to six
bells" exclaimed man. and a gem
eral emphatic hairy nod followed
the interruption.
Il was the first to smell fire." con-
tinued the other. .call it what hour
We like / gave the alarm ard all
hands turned to with hoses and buck
cts. But there was a deal OF oil in
tho hold. and the ships planks was
thick with grease besides and that
gave US no chance. By ten o'clock in
trs morning tho flames had bursted
ttkoagh and was shooting up mast
hi3h. Nd then wo calculated II was
tfrlSp n ~ to the boats
Re o'.s'id! Sss ss 1is's'i soneraliy
fS1iie with steadfast eyes at the
neater. but sometimes glancing
at the captain and the crowd