The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-12
TIE Man With the 1swels.


| Speaking OF jewels" said F. Marion Craw
ford the author, TO New York sun reporter
recalls TO Inc an incident on an Italian
steamer. 1t illustrates the oYerpowerins
greed for gold and the estimate some people
place upon their worldly possessions. 1t also
illustrates mans splendid nerve
1t was on my last trip up from India. Il
was dinner hour. My seat was on the captain:
right opposite me sat an old English sea cap
/ tain Next to him was Calcutta English mer-
chant who had accumulated a fortune and was
returning to old England to enjoy it. He had
I invested a large sum Of money in rich jewels
ana they were aboard with him. There were
T only few of US VINO knew that the ships safe
Contained many thousands of pounds sterling
worth or diamonds and rubies.
1 I'VE were all laughing aud talking and enjoy
/ ing our meal immensely. No one thought Of
disaster or accident.
Next came a sudden and tremendous shock
accompanied by humping, humping sound
rom the hold as II we had struck upon a rock.
Inc sensation was indeScribably painful.
Ihere was noise OF running about on deck.
Inc passengers sprang from their seats. their
features blanched with terror, and their eyes
starting with fear Wives threw themselves
INTO their husbands arms. Mothers pressed
their little ones to their breasts All was con-
fusion and disorder. Everybody was panic
stricken. It seemed as if we could hear the
waters rush in the aperture we were certain
had been torn in the vessels bottom. Every
woman screamed, and the men were about as
badly demoralzed.
The English sea captain sprang to his feet.
exclalInlng, Well, guess we are done for It
was supreme moment
THE owner of the Jewels was a pitiable
sight. He was the first person to reach his
Feet, clutching the back of the revolving chair
with one hand and pressing the other tightly
against his heart His face was sickly livid,
his mouth was open, and his eyes wild.
My God! My jewels
His tones were scarcely above a hoarse whis-
per. The mans terror was so great that he
fascinated me, and for moment forgot my
own apprehensions. l could not take my eyes
OH his face. You see, his first and only thought
was his jewels. Every other person in the
saloon was thinking of his life but this man 8
mind, in that moment of terrible suspense, was
conferred upon his wealth.
There was but one man who remained in his
seat and apparently unmoved, for if he ex-
perienced any fear he certainly did not mani
fest 1t. At the moment the crash came the
Italian captain had stretched out his hand to
grasp bottle of wine between his plate and
mine. The muscular movement did not cease.
Inc hand grasped the bottle, and conveying it
to his glass, he cooly poured the red LIQUID full
to the brm. He returned the bottle to its place
ana glanced mp almost 1nquiringly at the terri
fled creatures who were ranged in all sorts of
attitudes expressive of their respective feelings.
III was all over in minute, you know. The
passengers with their next thought instinctively
looked toward the captain, and, seeing him so
calm, hesltated before taking their mad flight
up the saloon staircase to the deck, as all were
contemplating. At that moment one of the
petty officers hurried down the staircase and
whispered word in the captains ear.
DO not feel alarmed, my friends said the
captain in clear, reassuring tones which at once
soothed the emotions and stled the fears of his
hearers, there is no danger and we are not on
q rock
THE man with the jewels dropped into his
seat as limp as \ rag and as weak as a babe, a
great sigh of relief escaping from his lips, The
relief was Of course general though our appe-
tites were seriously impaired. We then learned
mat the cylinder head Of one of The low,
pressure engines had blown out and the piston
rod was having a parrot-and monkey time all
by itself. 1t was an exciting experience; one
which would not care to go through again.,