Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-11-18

european waters The moment mrs.
Allaire heard of this arrival she wrote
to Zach French, who had been pro-
NOTED to boatswain, requesting him to
call upon her at San Diego. AS French
was contemplating trip to his native
town for the purpose of enjoying few
months rest, he replied that he would
start for San Diego as soon as he could
procure leave and would upon reaching
that city at once present himself at
Prospect cottage. 1t would possibly be
a matter of several days.
In the meantime, a rumor became
current, which, should it meet with
confirmation, was qualified to create
sensation throughout the length and
breadth of the land. 1t was alleged
that the Golden Gate had picked up
bit of wreck which in all likelihood be-
longed to the ill-fated Dreadnaught. A
San Francisco paper reported that the
Golden Gate had come upon this frag-
ment to the north of Australia in lati-
tudes lying between the Timor sea and
the sea of Arafoora off the island of
Melville to the west of Torres strait
The moment this news had been re-
ceived at San Diego, Mr.. Hollister and
Capt. Willis, whom it had reached by
telegraph, fastened to Prospect cot
tage At the first mention of the sub
ject, Mrs. Allaire turned very pale, but
she recovered herself in a moment.
''Now, that we have come upon this
trace" she cried out, in tone of abso-
lutte conviction, 1--WE shall find the
Dreadnaught, and after the ship has
been found we shall find John and his
companions"
The truth is the finding of this bit of
the wreck was a matter of great inn
portance- 1t was the first time that
fragment of the lost vessel had
come to light. Now, when Mrs. Allaire
betook herself to the region in which
the disaster had been located, she
would have in her possession a ring of
that chain which held the past bound
to the present.
A map of Oceanica was at once sent
for, and Mr.. Hollister and Capt. Willis
were requested to enter upon the con-
sideration of new route to be followed
by the Molly's Hope on her next cruise.
''Then you incline to think, captain
said Mr.. Hollister, that the Dread
naught did not endeavor to reach Singa-
pore by crossing the Philippines and
Malaysia"
II do replied Willis; ''to my mind,
it's improbable; yes, impossible
''But assuming that she did take that
route pursued Hollister, ''how comes
it that this piece of the wreck should
have been found in the Arafoora sea to
the north of Melville island?"
81 can't understand it. I can't ex-
plain it," answered Willis. "All that
can say is that the Drcadnaught was
seen off the southwest coast of Celebes
island. after she had passed the strait
of Macassar. Now, if she entered this
strait she did SO from the north and not
from the east, and hence could not have
come in through Torres strait
This question was discussed at con-
length, and it ended in the ac-
ceptance of Capt. Willis views.
Mrs Allaire had listened in silence to
this discussion; but her knitted brows
indicated with what tenacity, what
persistency she clung to her belief that
John and his companions were still
among the living. No; she was deter
mined to stand steadfast until actual
proofs of their death should be fur
nished her.
81 agree with you, my dear Willis"
cried Andrew Hollister, "that the
on her way to Singapore
crossed the Java sea-"
Part of the way at least, Mr.. Hollis
ter, for it was between Singapore and
Celebes island that the vessel was
wrecked"
That's SO, but still how was it posi-
bic for this piece of the wreck to drift
as far as the Australian coast if the
went to pieces on some
reef in the Java sea?"
''There is only one way to explain it,
replied Capt. Willis, land that is by as
suming that this fragment of the ship
was drawn through Lombok or some
other one of the straits which connect
the waters north of these islands with
the Timor and Arafoora seas"
''Do the currents set in that way?"
Eyes, Mr.. Hollister, and / would 90
so far as to say that the Dreadnaught
after having been dismantled in a tor
nado may have been sucked into one of
these straits and finally been cast on
some reef north of the Australian
coast"
You're right, my dear Willis" cried
Andrew Hollister. ''it's the only reason
able hypothesis, and the conclusion is
irresistible that if fragment of the :
wreck has been picked up to the north
of Melville island six years after the
disaster it must have been recently de-
tached from the reefs on which the clip
per ship went to pieces"
This explanation was qualified to carry
conviction to the mind of any intelli-
gent seaman.
''Since it is more than likely" added
Mr.. Allaire, whose gaze still remained
riveted upon the map unrolled before
her, that the Dreadnaught was driven
ashore on the coast of Australia, and
since none of the shipwrecked crew
have made their appearance here or
elsewhere, it follows that they are held
prisoners"
THAT is not impossible, Molly" In
terrupted Mr.. Hollister.
Mrs. Allaire was on the point of pro
testing vigorously against the implica
ton contained in this answer, when
Capt. Willis broke in with:
eve have yet to determine that thil
fragment of wreck picked up by the
Golden Gate really belonged to Capt.
Johns ship"
Have You any doubt of itP" inquired
Molly.
1--WE shall soon be able to solve that
question:" cried the merchant, "for ]
have ordered the fragment to be for
warded to u.s."
"And have given ORDERS" added Mrs.
Allaire, that the Molly's Hope be kept
in readiness to sail at any moment"
Three days after this conversation
Zach French, the boatswain, reached
San Diego and presented himself at
Prospect cottage. Thirty-seven years OF
age, strongly built, with face Drowned
by exposure and eyes full of determine
ton, this man had something frank and
pleasing about him. You felt that he
belonged to the kind that never shrinks
back nor hesitates, but goes straight to
the place where he is told to go. The
welcome that he received from Mrs.
Allaire was SO full of gratitude that
the honest sailor quite lost the use OF
his tongue.
my friend" she exclaimed, after her
feelings had somewhat quieted down,