The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1892-02-16


reeve it under her; but he might Just
as well have tried to stop the middle
arch of London bridge The engines
were still kept going; but the deck
slanted steadily, and the list to the
starboard reached an angle that made
it difficult to stand Mt all. especially as
the uneasy, staggering lurches of the
steamer were taking her anyhow.
An awkard rush of the men swayed
forward; the boxer and his gang made
a desperate effort to get one Of the boats
clear Cursing and praying, they
hacked at the tackles with knives;
some of them swar1ned up and stood on
the tliwarts, tearing savagely at the
chains; but the boats were made fast
to stand heavy weather, and only skilled
sailors could launch them. A loud
crack, followed by wallowing noise
like thunder, rendered all other sounds
Insignificant, and a captain who was
going out to New York said: The
bulkhead's gone We must take our
chances now The ship stopped nearly
dead, and began to trenlble curiously.
but that was only the river of water
driven aft, and we soon saw the firemen
driven up like rats from a burrow
Stand by the boatsl'
The order was given, and the boat
swain's call rose in a long, tremulous
screech- The sailors tried to get to
their quarters, and observed that
their occasional drills had done them
good. But then the drills had been
carried on while the passengers stood
aloof, so that the sailors were used to
having their own way. At this june
ture there was a maddened host of
cowardly men and hysterical women
to be dealt with. forced my way
forward toward one of the starboard
boats, and as thrust my way through
the crush an Irishwonan cIung to me
with one arm while she held up a shiv-
ering baby with the other The woman
was nearly naked, but she never needed
the cold. Mother of God she cried,
take my little one, and make sure of
him.
81 shook her off and pushed on. A
terrified NAVY sought to keep me back,
and he scratched at my face like cat,
but reached the davits. The men had
the boat swung around and the carpen-
ter was about to let her run, when a
mixed mob of English and foreigners
took possession, and in an instant the
little craft was packed with weltering
heap OF men who had quite lost their
senses. ! saw the captain leave the
bridge with flying spring, and saw
also the gleam of the pistol barrels;
then heard on the starboard side the
rapid Smash, smash of a revolver shot,
and the captain shouted: You hear
what they're getting on the other sidel
Out of it. or | take you one after the
other The sailor were fighting hard,
but the men in 4 boats fought also
with the oaIs ai,. boat hooks. One
nan had ] 5 head split; another re-
we'd "a wor "A froin.a boat hook which.
clie ',vsy in one nasty flap
Still the ruffians did not know how
to lower away, and one of them began
to lash at the forward fall with an ax.
Come down, you, SIR You be id
Cracki The man flnng up his arms
dropped his ak and fell headlong into
the sea- Now. down with you,' said
the captain, livid and half blind with
fury But no. A furious fool succeed
ed in letting the boat go by the head,
and the whole crowd of poltroons were
emptied into the smashing sea, where
they gasped and struggled till the last
two men throttled each other and
rolled under. One of the starboard
boats was successfully launched, and
the chief officer stood revolver in hand.
Women first here. Thompson, you
will steer her. Take four men and no
more
THE young English lady was low
cred down, although she chung hard to
her father and begged him to let her
stay. No, darling; goodby. Be hap
pyp he said. and then stood composed
ly amid the hurly burly. A pretty
actress and two Irishwomen were next
sent down; then four children We're put
in, and then the sailors sprang over the
side and prepared to help others. An
Irishman shouted, Now, boysr His
voice seemed to send an impulse
through the crowd, and the roughs
tore themselves away from the women
and flung themselves reclklessly-some
into the boat, some into the water.
The officer fired two barrels and missed
each time; sailor showed of, and we
saw an overiaden boat lumber heavily
away astern.
"All this scene of horror took place
in less than two minutes, and the ship
settled more and more every second.
The prize fighter and his gang were not
successful in their attempt to steal the
boat forward. The purser and the
steward armed themselves with fire.
mems rods and beat the fellows down;
then the baker-a thick young lad.
who had learned his business as a sea-
man in addition to his trade-Iet the
boat slip, and four gallant men with
stood the feroeious rowdies until eight
cen women had been pitched over the
side and carelessly lowered. A seaman
took the tiIler; four strokers, the purs-
er and the baker jumped in at the last
moment, and this second boat went
adrift
Meanwhile the captain had reloaded
alas, what pity he only had two
barrelsl-and a third and fourth boat
went off with half their proper compile
ment. Another boat load might have
escaped, but six men sprang from the