Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-11-04
THE CASTAWAYS.

On n December morning. in the
year 1888. small steamer home
ward bound from New Zealand port
was approaching tho meridian OF the
Horn. but on a parallel more south
erly than it is now the custom OF
steamships to take in rounding that
stormy. e-girt dcsolate and most
inhospitable OF all headlands.
December in those distant regions
is mid summer. and tho weather OF
that morning was as fair and still as
a breezeless April day in this coun-
ocean ran ceaselessly-reminiscent
respirations of giantess whose con.
Il ct with the heavens is eternal. and
whose breathing pauses are very few
and far between. indeed. Over this
long, dark blue. westerly swell tho
great metal fabric went sweeping in
long floating, launching courtesies.
whitening the water astern OF her
with Il mile of wake.
The chief o fccr was on the bridge;
the first breakfast bell had rung and
the captain, smart as a naval officer
in buttons and lace trimmings quilted
the chart room and joined the mate
to take look around before going
below. This skipper was man of
eagle sight and instantly on directing
his eyes over the ships bow he eX-
claimed:
What is that back object You
der?"
Tho chief mate pcerod aud the cap
tain leveled telescope.
"A ships. boat" said he, and
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 re
verberatory warning, sending "a little
thrill OF wonder throughout the ship
so rarely is that telegraph handled on
the high seas.
Il count eight men. sir. cred the
chief II ate, with u binocular glass at
his eye
Again the engine room alarm rang
out; the pulsing that for days had
been ceaselessly throbbing through
the long fabric languished and in a
few minutes to another summons OF
the metal tongue below ceased. and
the great steamship lloated along TO
her own impetus slowly till the boat
| was within the toss of a biscuit of the
| bow W tn the passengers crowding to
the side, and sailors and walters and
Storage folk blackening the rail for
ward.
The occupants of the boat consisted
Of eight wild, harry veritabe scare
crows OF men, dressed In divers fash
| ions Scotch caps sea boots toll worn
monkey jackets and the like.
Boat ahoy." hailed the captain as
she slowly washed alongside. 'Wha
is wrong with your
A fellow standing up in the sterr
sheets cried back in strong Yankee
accent:
For Gods sake sir take u
aboard! Our waters almost given out
and there's nothing left to cat.
Look out for the end of line.
bawled the captain Are yo,
strong enough to get aboard withou
help?'
Aye. sir, well manage it."
A rope was thrown. and one afte
another the fellows came swingin,
and scraping and scrambling up III
clean side of the steamship The pas
sengers crowded around and gazed a
them with curiosity and pity. Thei
sympathetic eyes seemed to find fam
inc painfully expressed in the leath
ern countenances that stared bac
at them through mats of HAIR.
I'VE must let your boat go" sal
the captain.
Can help it. sir; thankful enoug
TO be here | reckon" answered tn
fellow who had called from the ster
sheets and who acted as spokesman
Anything belonging to you to com
out?"
Nothing by the etarnal. Let he
60. Sir. Ii sa lors' sea blessings Cd
freight IA craft she amt going to floi
long"
The boat was sent adr.ft the ell
, CINE bell rang out once more u
great mail steamer was thrashin
over the long. tall heave of Car
Horn swell.
How came you into this mess:
inquired the captain.
: The man who had spoken befol
made answer
We're all that's left Of the crew
the Boston bark George Washington
She was whaleE one hundred ar
eighty-four days out 1t were fol
days ago. | was the first to sme
: fire some while AFTER two o'clock,
the middle watch.
: 1T wanted ten minutes TO s
bells" exclaimed u man. and IA ge
cral emphatic. hairy nod follow,
the interruption.
I Il was the first to smell fire." co
J, tinued the other call it what no
/ We like. | gave the alarm and ;
: hands turned to with hoses and buc
cts. But there was n deal of oil
the hold and the ships planks W
, ok with grease besides and tn
a gave us no chance. By ten o'clock
- the morning the flames had burst'
r. through aud was shooting up ma
high, and then we calculated II W
tino to look 10 the boats
X The others stood listening wi
hard. solid. leathery faces general
gazing with steadfast eyes at q
speaker, but sometimes glancil
askant at the captain and the GROW
bi,b toad arnund