Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-23
CHAPTER L
TuH DREADHAUCHT.

by long voyage Will never see ehcE
other again-those who are left behind
may be missing upon the return; those
who set out may never come back
again. But no such thought as this
bothered the heads OF the seamen who
were busily engaged in getting the
Dreadnaught ready for sea on the morn
ing Of March is, 1878. On that day the
Oresdnaught, John Allairo, master,
vas TO set sail from the port OF San
Diego, Cal, on a voyage through the
seas OF the northern Pacific.
The Dreadnaught three-master OF
nine hundred tonnage, belonged 10 that
type Of clipper-built ships which the
Americans use 30 advantngeously In
their foreign trade and which In point
OF speed nearly rival the best steamers
In their merchant marine. Such n fine
ly-built vessel was the Dreadnaught,
and 20 admirably commanded, that not
man Of her crew would have con.
sented 10 ship on any other vessel oven
with an assurance OF higher pay. Every
heart throbbed, every breast was flled
with that two-fold confidence based upon
the certainty Of having shipped on n
good vessel under good captain.
The Dreadnaught wns about 10 leave
port on her FIRST voyage, excepting, Of
course. her trial trip, for account Of her
owners, the shipping house OF llollister
& Co., OF San Diego. Her port Of des-
tination was TO DO Calcutta, which she
was to reach by way OF Singapore, with
n cargo OF American manufactured
goods, and upon her return voyage she
was TO bring a consignment OF East
Indian merchandise for one Of the Cali
fornian ports.
Capt John Allaire was n young man,
Just twenty-ninc, with an open. manly
countenance, full Of force and decision.
lie was endowed 10 high degree with
moral courage so superior TO physical
courage-the two hours after mid
night" courage as Napoleon called II,
that is to say, tho kind which can
calmly face the unforeseen and gather
strength In emergencies. II would be
difficult to Imagine finer specimen Of
physical manhood. The flash OF his
dark eyes, the ruddy checks, the broad
shoulders and arched chest, the great
strength OF his hands, the springy,
elastic tread, all betokened the pres
ence OF an iron will inside OF an iron
body. And yet John Allaire was kind
and generous 10 fault, ready almost
instinctively TO sacrifice his life for n
fellow creature. lie had so much Of
the heroic in him that II seemed only
@ matter OF course for him to perform n
brave act,and he Ind given an earnest OF
this while still lad by saving the lives
Of several OF his playm0tes In after
years this instructive devotion ripened
into n matter OF faith with him and set
Its indelible impress upon the mans
character.
John Allalre had taken wife n few
Dreadnaught-a Miss Molly Manson
an orphan belonging TO one OF the best
families In San Diego. The young girls
fortune was n modest one, but quite in
keeping with the young mans position,
that Of a mate on one Of the uollistcr
fleet OF merchantmen. But there was
good reason to assume that Molly
would some day or other inherit large
fortune from q rich uncle, Edward
Manson, who was u large land specula-
or and mill owner In the western part
II Tennessee. In the meantime there
were two people to support, yes, three,
for little Walter, Wat, as pet name,
had come into the world the first year
OF their marriage; therefore the cap
tain-and the captains wife agreed
with him-couldn't think Of giving up
the sea Just yet Later he would deter
mine what would be the best thing for
him 10 do, either after Molly had be-
come an heiress or he had grown rich In
the service Of HOLSTER & Co.
Anyway, his career had been bril-.
liant one, and he now found himself
captain Of n splendid clipper ship at an
ago when most Of his associates were
nothing more than hrst or second
mates. But tho fact Is his splendid
qualifications were universally conced.
cd, and II would have been hard TO ind
more popular man than Capt Allaire
either In San Diego or In any other Cal.
iforuian port Tho personal bravery
displayed by him in rescuing a ship.
wrecked crew on one occasion, and In
his skill and tenacity Of purpose in ef
fecting the salvage OF a valuable cargo
abandoned by master and seamen, haC
made his name known 10 merchants anC
shippers all along the coast
The firm Of llollister & Co. Offered
him the command OF the Dreadnaught
which was all ready 10 be launched
Allaire had accepted without thu
slightest hesitation, for he felt that h,
was qualified TO al the position, AM
had been thereupon authorized TO picl
his officers and seamen, such was tn
perfect confidence which the house ha
In him. II was under these circum
stances that the Dreadnaught wa
about 10 make her FIRST voyage unde
the command Of Capt John Allaire.
The sailing OF this splendid ne,
clipper ship was quite an event Tn
firm Of HOLSTER a Co, very justly en-
ioyed the reputation Of being one Of IN
wealthiest and most reputable shippin
houses In San Diego, thanks TO the wis
administration of Its affairs by Williai
Hollister, a man respected by his con
petitors and beloved by his friend
Everyone was delighted when IL b,
came known that he had put John A
luire In command OF the Dreadnaugh
II was not surprising, therefore, thI
on this particular morning, March 4
a vast concourse Of people, many {
them personal friends and all OF the
admirers Of tho young captain. shoil
have collected on the wharves OF II
Paciflc Coast Steamship Company
give him parting cheer.
The crew 81 thu Dreadnauglt WI
made up 81 trn able-bodled nsumen On
muster and mate The suilors wei
all natives OF residents OF san deg