The Somerset reporter., 1893-03-02
.I.incoln is Killed


striking Incident In Mid-Ocehn After
the Presidential Assassination
Early our morning the mate Mas
startled hV the cry FROM aloft. black
smoke ahead. ,ir' \ biz steamer stand-
inp ia the southwark.
The captain Wa called and III a trlcc
buuuccd on deck. where. applying the
oln., To lii eve. lac took a long look AT
IN. stranger. who had pushed 20 sudden
lv olti of the early mist hanging Low up
OH the horizon.
Whatever her character. We had nut
little chance of escape If she lGid fliled
Guns. Many Il glance ot apprehension
wu- directed toward the sonlbrc huil ana
pair of slopiug smokesiacke with me
wiring smoke trending lar a-lern.
show him our colors. -ir Bend on
thr ensign. we may n vel De hanged
for a sheep a. a lamb. II that fellow Is
a rebel the sooner We know 1t the pet
ter, exclaimed the captain some Nlat
evcitedlA to the mate.
II WAS close upon six bells q O'Clock
when the steamer revealed her natlonail-
ty.
We fairly yelled when the bloed-rcd
eros, of st. George danced up aloil from
the steamers signal yards. She WAS eV-
identity a troopship bound for the cape,
n triiIc out of her course, but we ana not
stop to consider that.
She was too far distant To speak but
in obedience to a gesture from the cap
tain, the mate empticd bag ol gaiIy
colorcd signals on the deck, and the boys
were called aft to man the halyardH ana
lend a hand to bend on The magic nagS
Inward futtcrcd the parti-colored bits
of bunting. gla,ses were lrveled ana
brcnthless expectancy marked the sun
burnt features of the clippers crew, Tor
the inquiry flying from our iniIlcn-royai-
mast was. "What news of the American
war;"
The flash of foam cast up by the huge
propeller greeted our strained vision the
great steamer glidcd on, but no respon-
siyc signal, gladdcncd thcanNio,> hearts
of those vcarning to hear new 1r"h
home.
With u passionate exclamation oi dis
appontmcnt the captain closed the CONT,
OF his long glasses with IA savage snap.
saving as he turned away; "lir hash
our code. IT.. no use.
"I,ook AT that, '" suddenly exclaimed
the mate. pointing. what j. he going
to do
.IIc i, coming about, shouted the
captain. hi. bronIcd features fairly pal
ing. "Can it be possible lac has played
Us Il trick and is the Alabama: stand
by. all hands, for
4 deep blast of the steam whistle rum
blcd over the flashing waters. followed
bV "A number of quick tuote a. the steam
err ranged To lccward then an cXpanSe OF
white canvas WAS lowered over the side
Glasses were directed upon that bright
patch amidships. upon which dark lines
could be disccrncd with the naked eye.
The ylas- showed these were letters.
II have il ~ shouted the captain. leap
ing cXcitedly into the rigging spread
the news fore and aft 1t The
American conflict il over. Davis a fugi-
livr'-and what, that: Heavens. no
1es--'I lincoln is killed.
.,Strikr the colors haf-mast, sir. con-
tinucd the captain to the mate in II sub
ducd tone. Then he added; "IIoi>t the
signal Thank YOU to the steamer.
At that moment the rich. full tone, of
Il rcgimental band We're waited across
the hcaving swells, and many IN eye
gliStcned with emotion n the well-known
strains of ''IIail Columbia" were family
heard. The steamer slowly fell oil and
resumed her course. while. aS II actuated
by one impulse. officers and men sprauG
into the weather rigging. giving three
times three aud waving their hats in re-
turn for the kindness of the courteous
Ennlslmen. The stars and stripes were
dippcd three times. the hoarse whistle
rang out in return. the Meteor flag slow
" and Enthusiastically returned the salute
and the greeting in mid-ocean was over.