Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-01-06
The Man With the Jewels.

speaking of jewels" said F. Ma
rion Crawford, the author, to New
York Sun reporter, recalls to me an
incident on an Italian steamer. Ii
illustrates the overpowering greed for
gold and the estimate some people
place upon their worldly possessions.
1t also illustrates a mans splendid
nerve
1T was on my last trip up from In
dia. 1t was dinner hour. Ny seat
was on the captains right. Opposite
me sat an English sea captain. Next
to him was Calcutta English mer-
chant who had accumulated fortune
and was returning 10 old England 10
enjoy it. He had invested large
sum of money in rich jewels and they
were aboard with him. There were
only a few OF us who knew that the
ships safe contained many thousands
OF pounds sterling worth OF diamonds
and rubies.
We were all laughing and talking
and enjoying our meal Immensely
No one thought of disaster or acct
dent.
Next came sudden aud tremen-
dous shock. accompanied by a thun.p-
ing, bum ping sound from the hold as
il we had struck upon rock. The
sensation was indescribably painful.
There was a noise OF running about
on deck. The passengers sprang from
their seats, their features blanched
with terror, and their eyes startling
with fear. Wives threw themselves
into their husbands arms, mothers
pressed their little ones 10 their
breasts. All was confusion and dis
order. Every body was panic stricken.
1t seemed "a if we could hear the wa
ters rush in the aperture we were all
certain had been torn in the vessels
bottom Every woman screamed,
and the men were about as badly de
The English sea captain sprang to
his feet, eXclaiming, We'll, | guess We
are done for 1t was supreme mo
ment.
The owner OF the jewels was pit
liable 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 II sickly livid,
his mouth was open and his eyes
wild.
MY God! my jewels.
His tone was scarcely above a
hoarse whisper. The mans terror
was so great that he fascinated me,
and for a moment forgot my own
| could not take my
ewes off his face. You see, his first
and only thought was his jewels.
Every other person in the saloon was
OF his life, but this mans
mind. in that moment OF terrible sus-
pense, was centered upon his wealth.
There was but one man who re-
mained in his seat and apparently
for II he experienced any
fear, he certainly did not manifest 1t.
At the moment the crash came the
Italian captain had put forth his
hand to grasp a bottle OF wine be-
tween his plate ard mine. The mus
cular movement did not cease. The
hand grasped the bottle, and con
veying it to his glass, he coolly poured
the red liquid full to the brim. He
returned the bottle to its place and
glanced up almost inquiringly at the
terrified creatures who were ranged
in all sorts OF attitudes expressive OF
their respective feelings.
1T was all over in n minute, you
know. The passengers with their
next thought instinctively looked to-
ward the captain, and, seeing him 80
calm, hesitated before taking their
mad flight up the saloon staircase to
the deck. as all were contemplating.
AT that moment one OF the petty Of
ficers hurried down the staircase and
whispered u word in the captains ear.
"Do not feel alarmed, my friends"
said the captain in clear, reassuring
tones which at once soothed the emo
tions and stilled the fears OF his hear
ers, there is no danger and we are not
on a rock.
The man with the jewels dropped
into his seat as limp "a a rag and as
weak as baby, and q great sigh OF
relief escaping from his lips. The re
lief was OF course general, though
our appetites were seriously impaired.
We then learned that the cyliner head
OF one OF the low-pressure engines
had blown out aud the piston rod
was having parrot-and-Inonkey
time all by itself 1t was al exciting
experience; one which would not
care TO go through again"