The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-12
" Clark Rp...ll. IN VII and Wisdom.

New Zealand port was approaching the
meridian of the Horn. but on q parallel
more southerly than it is now the custom
of steamships to take in rounding that
stormy, ice-sirt, desolate and most inhos-
pitable of all headlands.
December in those distant regions Is mid
summer. and the weather of that morning
was as fair and still as breeZeless April
dav In this country. but the swell OF the
vast tract of ocean ran ceaselessiy-rem-
iniscent respirations of a giantess whose
conflict with the heavens Is eternal, and
whose breathing pauses are very few and
far between. indeed Over this long. dark
blue. westerly swell the great metal fabric
went sweeping in long. floating launching
currseys. whitening the water astern OF her
with q mile of milk-white wake.
The frosty sun. whose beams In that sen
have something of the silvery brilliance OF
the electric light, flashed . score of con-
stellations out of tho gilt and glass and
brass about the steamships bows and quar-
ters and decks. A number of passengers
were pacing the long hurricane platform.
Far away on the starbosrd beam, poised
stsrlike upon the keen blue rim of the
ocean, was an iceberg-a dash of cry staline
light against the airy sky that out there.
low down, wore the delicate hue of the
opal. Otherwise the ocean swept naked to
Its confines. plain Of rich; deep blue;
the morning glory under the sun az it ran.
and making that part of the deep magnit-
cent with lowing light
The chief officer was on the bridge; the
first breakfast bell had rung and the
captain, smart rs naval officer, In but
tons and lace trimmings quit ed the chart
room and joined the mate 10 take look
around before going below. This skipper
was a man of eagle sight. and instantly on
directing his eyes over the ships bow he
exclaimed:
What is that black object yonderiv
The chief mate peered and the captain
lsveled q telescope.
"A ships boat" said he. land seemingly
full OF people,"
The boat. when sighted. was some three
or four miles distant and the speed OF the
steamship was about thirteen knots. In
few minutes the alarm in the engine-roOm
rang its reverberatory warning. sending q
little thrill of wonder throughout the ship.
so rarely IS that telegraph handled on the
nigh seas.
az count eight men. SIR" cried the chief
mate. with q binocular glass ct his eye.
Again the engine-room alarm rang out;
the pulsing that for days had been cease
lessly throbbing through the the long
fabric Ian guished and in a few minutes. to
another summons of the metal tongue be-
low. ceased and the great steamship tioated
along TO her own impetus slowly till the
boat was within the toss of q biscuit OFF
the bow. with the passengers crowdinR to
the side to look and sailors and walters
and steerage folk blackening the rail for
ward.
eight wild, hairy, veritable scare.crows OF
men. dressed in divers fashions-Scotch
caps, yellow sou'westers, sea boots, toll
worn monkey jackets and the like.
h. he. ~ k.sH -
slowly washed alongside. What Is wrong
with your
VOICE FROM THE WRECK.
A fellow standing mp In the stern sheets
cried back In a strong Yankee accent:
For Gods sake SIR take us aboard Our
waters almost given out. and there's moth
ing left to eat"
Lookout for the end of line." bawled
get aboard without helpw
Aye, sir, we'll manage It."
A rope WAS thrown, and one after an
other the feIlowsc came swinging. and scrap
ing and scrambling up tho clean side of
the steamship. The passengers crowded
around and gazed at them with curiosity
and pity. Their sympathetic eyes seemed
to find famine painfully expressed in tho
leathern counteDa nces that stared back
through mats of hair.
I'VE must let your boat Co." said the
captain.
Cant help 1t. sir; thankful enough to
be here, / reckon" answered the fellow
who had called from the stern sheets, and
who acted a. spokesman.
anything belonging to you to come out
Nothing. by the Erarnall Let her 60,
cir. Ii sailors sea blessings can freight a
craft she amt going to float long,"
The boat was sent adrift, the en- CINE bell
sang out. once more the great mail steamer
was thrashins oyer the long, tall heave of
How came you into this mess'" inquired
the captain.
The man who had before spoken made
answer:
Boston bark George Washington She
was whaler. lS4 days ont. 1t were four
days ago. i was the first to smell fire.
some while AFTER o'clock, IN the middle
watch"
1t wanted ten minutes TO six bells" ex-
claimed q man. and a general, emphatic
hairy nod following the interruption.
Il was the first TO smell hre,' continued
the other, call IL what hour ye like.
gave tho alarm and all hands turned to
with hoses and buckets. But there was a
deal OF oil IN the hold and the ships planks
was thick with grease besides. and that
gave as 10 chance. by 10 o'clock in tho
morning the flames had bursted through
and was shooting M mast high. and then
we calculated 1t was time TO look 70 the
boats'
The others stood listening with hard.
solid, leathery faces. generally gazing with
steadfast eyes at the speaker but some
times glancing askapt at the captain ard
the crowd of others which stood round
There Was tarnation ugly sen run
ming" the man went on, and. the wheel
being desarted, the ship had fallen off and
lay IN the trough, and the lowering of the
stern boats, whalemeD though they was
who had the handling of 'em cost our CON-
pany of twenty eight souls the loss of all
hands, saving them as stand afOre ye."
A bad job A measly, cruel bad job"
mere broke In . long-jawed man. whose
brow and eyes were almost concealed by q
quantity OF coarse red hair.
Well, US eight men got away In the
boat proceeded the spokesman, bringing
along with us pothin' but small bag OF
bread and about six gallons of fresh water.
we've been washing about since Tuesday,
ana now. the Lord be- praised, here we be-
with chance of getting something TO eat.
and. what's more plessnrabl still to our
feelings, the opportunity of comforta bly,
turning in"
A murmur of pity ran among the passen-
gers, several OF whom were ladies' and
there was more than one somewhat loud
whisper to the effect thas the cantain
ought really to send the poor creatures for
ward al once TO get some breakfast instead
Of holding them starving and dry with
thirst. TO talk. The eagle-eyed skipper
however. asked several questions before
dismisslng them.
Since. by their own confession. tho fra
gave them plenty time to escape from the
bark. how was 10 they had left her so i'll
provisioned as they representedp
COULDN'T BE TRICKED